Demand soars for Island food banks, including among two-income families

https://www.timescolonist.com/christmas-fund/demand-soars-for-island-food-banks-including-among-two-income-families-11658900 The manager of Lake Cowichan’s food bank says the number of two-parent working families coming for help is concerning.

Cindy E. Harnett

Dec 23, 2025 4:30 AM

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The manager of Lake Cowichan’s food bank says it’s seeing at least 30 more families seeking help with groceries this year over last, and a surprising number of them are double-income households.

Cindy Vaast, who serves as operations and hamper co-ordinator as well as vice-president of the food bank’s board, said the number of two-parent working families coming for help is concerning.

“They don’t need to use it all the time, but they know we are there when things are stretched too far,” said Vaast.

It’s a trend reported across the country — Food Banks Canada reports that 23 per cent of those accessing food banks are two-parent families with children, compared with 19 per cent in 2019.

While Vaast said that while the food bank determines need by asking families about their economic status, they aren’t invasive in their inquiries. “If you say you need it, you need it,” she said, adding that some people come well before food-hamper distribution opens so that they can visit with others.

“I know that sounds really strange, but they get to know each other,” said Vaast. “There’s people who come an hour before the doors open and bring lawn chairs.”

Gift cards are also given to clients to allow them to shop for perishable items in addition to their monthly food hampers, she said.

Open monthly on the second Wednesday of the month — the next being Jan. 14 — at 62 Fern Rd., the Lake Cowichan Food Bank is one of many Island food banks supported by the Times Colonist Christmas Fund, which helps charities in Greater Victoria, up Island as far as Campbell River, and on the Gulf Islands.

As of Sunday, this year’s Christmas Fund fundraising campaign has raised $936,048.14 from 2,525 donors.

Food Banks Canada, which supports 5,500 food banks and community organizations across Canada, reports that one in four people in Canada live in households where there is not a reliable or consistent source of food, and nearly 2.2 million have visited food banks in a single month this year. Of that group, 42 per cent are single, 33 per cent are children, and 8.3 per cent are seniors, up from 6.8 per cent in 2019.

The national charity adds that 19 per cent who use food banks are employed, up from 12 per cent in 2019, while 40 per cent are on social assistance or disability-related support.

Rising costs of living, economic uncertainty, and the lasting effects of global crises have made it harder for many households to put food on the table, according to Food Banks B.C.

It notes that the nearly 2.2 million visits to food banks in a single month this year is double the monthly usage recorded just six years ago. “It took decades to reach one million visits in a month, and it has now taken half a decade to double that,” according to Food Banks Canada.

The charity says the parent skipping meals so their kids can eat, the senior choosing between medication and groceries, or the worker juggling multiple jobs and still coming up short at the end of the month “are not outliers.”

Other food banks receiving donations from the Times Colonist Christmas Fund include:

Comox Valley Food Bank Society

The Comox Valley Food Bank on McPhee Avenue in Courtenay served more than 45,000 clients last year, from Cook Creek to Oyster River.

The food bank is open to clients four days a week, and each Wednesday delivers food to those with mobility issues.

Executive director Dave Reynolds said demand has grown about 15 to 20 per cent from last year, with the number of clients in all demographics on the rise.

Especially in need are singles and working families in the 36 to 50-year-old age group. “They are working, just having a hard time paying rent and making ends meet, so they use us on an emergency basis,” he said.

Pender Island Food Bank

The Pender Island Food Bank uses a grocery-store model so clients can choose their foods, which range from bread to meat, dairy, eggs, canned goods, pasta and other dry goods, fresh fruits and veggies and pet food and hygiene items.

At Christmas, the food bank offers Santa’s sacks with gifts for children and food hampers or gift certificates for those in need on Pender.

Pam Wright, chair of the volunteer working board, says demand has grown “significantly” over the past few years, but the food bank saw a “really big jump” in the last three months.

The number of users has grown from 25 individuals or families a week a few years ago to around 50 or 60 in the last six months. Last week, it saw 92.

“Most people who normally see us every once in a while are needing to see us more frequently,” said Wright, citing “ridiculously” high rents and food prices.

Wright said the food bank is also seeing a lot of clients who are “underhoused” — living on boats in the harbour or camping out due to the high cost of living.

The food bank is open to any Penderite in need — “no questions asked.”

The non-denominational society is open Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon in the back of the St. Peters’ Anglican Church hall, 4703 Canal Rd.

Sooke Food Bank Society

Sooke region residents in need can access the Sooke Food Bank, which offers one food hamper per month, plus other household supplies.

The charity serves about 90 families each month from East Sooke to Port Renfrew, “with enrolment rising faster than ever before.”

The food bank encourages people to check out its website to learn how to register and what to bring to the Sooke Community Hall, 2037 Shields Rd.

January food bank days are Thursdays, Jan 1, 8, 15, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

HOW TO DONATE TO THE CHRISTMAS FUND

• Go online to tcchristmasfund.com. That page is linked to CanadaHelps, which is open 24 hours a day and provides an immediate tax receipt.

• Use your credit card by phoning 250-995-4438 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.

• Cheques should be made out to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund and mailed to Times Colonist Christmas Fund, 201-655 Tyee Rd., Victoria, B.C. V9A 6X5

ceharnett@timescolonist.com