5.8 million Canadians,
including 1.4 million children,
experienced food insecurity in 2021.
Source: Statistics Canada’s Canadian Income Survey
Hidden within the borders of Canada lies a silent yet extremely serious crisis that nobody really talks about – Child hunger. Millions of children nationwide suffer from food insecurity, which not only compromises their physical health but also impacts their overall development.
But, why is there food insecurity in Canada?
The United Nation’s second Sustainable Development Goal is Food Insecurity, and the first one? Eradicating Poverty. The two challenges are extremely interconnected, with household food insecurity being strongly linked to poverty.
Inadequate social support networks, unequal access to resources, economic inequality, and discrepancies in access to resources are some of the main causes of food insecurity in Canada. A lot of families find it difficult to pay for wholesome food because of low pay, unstable jobs, or little social help.
Poverty has led to child hunger:
Children are disproportionately affected by poverty and hunger. Globally, millions of children under the age of five suffer from the consequences of malnutrition each year. In Canada, the situation is no different. Surprisingly, Canada is the only country in G7 that lacks a nationally-funded school food program.This makes the challenge of food insecurity among children even worse, particularly among disadvantaged communities.
But, how can you make a difference?
First, it is really important for us to understand that we all have a role to play here – all of us. It will require collective efforts, regardless of where we live or what resources we have because let’s get it straight – child hunger directly or indirectly affects all of us. The onus of combating the problem doesn’t rely only on the government or charitable organisations, everyone coming together, taking action and contributing in any way we can is the only way we as a nation will be able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of these children.
Here are a few ways you can help:
- Educating Yourself and Others
Increasing public awareness about the problem of child hunger and its root causes requires education. Spend some time learning about the underlying causes of food insecurity and enlightening others about it. By starting a conversation around it, you can inspire more people to take action. - Volunteering at Community Programs
There are many communities and programmes that are working towards combating child hunger, by volunteering your time at these programs, you can make a huge impact in their lives. It can be by helping prepare meals, serving food, or interacting with children and creating a conducive learning environment for them.
For more information about such events, you can sign up to The Children’s Breakfast Clubs’ monthly newsletter - Advocating for Policy Change
As individuals, we hold the power to push for policy changes that prioritises eliminating child hunger in the country. Policy changes can lead to systematic reforms and government-funded school food programs that will ensure that no child goes to bed hungry. - Donating
For many, it’s not always possible to volunteer their time. Therefore, you can also consider making a donation to organisations and programs that are focused towards solving the problem of child hunger. It also gives you the flexibility of either donating once or signing up to a recurring donation programme, ensuring that children in need will continue to have access to nutritious and healthy meals.
Click here to donate now and make a positive impact in the lives of vulnerable children.
The journey to end child hunger in Canada can start with just one step, one that is driven by compassion, determination, and unwavering resolve.
Our efforts through The Children’s Breakfast Clubs:
For more than 30 years, we have been fighting child hunger. Our organisation provides over 5,000 meals a week to underprivileged children by organising breakfast programs around Southern Ontario. In addition to serving wholesome meals, these programs give kids a stable environment and emotional support, which helps them grow and develop.
We truly believe that nutritious meals are key to children’s general wellbeing and academic achievement. Further, we also organise educational, cultural, and recreational activities that help kids between the ages of 5 and 18 improve their social, physical, and cognitive abilities.
— For our leaders of tomorrow, let hunger only be towards learning, and not food. —
Shubhang Sharma