Demand at Quebec food banks hitting record numbers [Video]

For the first time ever, West Island Mission will not be serving new families this holiday season.

The non-profit is only going to be able to help those who are already clients.

“It doesn’t feel good where we’re having to say no. We don’t like to have to say no,” said executive director Suzanne Scarrow.

The organization said that since the COVID-19 pandemic, it is having trouble keeping up with the demand.

Staff went from helping 250 families to 400.

“The West Island hasn’t seen poverty the way we’re seeing it right now,” said Scarrow.

Poverty is a growing problem across the province. In 2024, food banks in Quebec responded to nearly three million requests for food aid per month.

Last year, the number was around 2.6 million.

“Food insecurity has nothing to do with food,” said Scarrow. “Affordable housing, loss of jobs, employment; all of those are major issues within our governments.”

This past year, Moisson Montreal responded to nearly one million requests for food …