Campaign aims to take a bite out of hunger this summer

Touted as Canada’s largest food drive, Food Banks Canada has resurrected its successful #EveryPlateFull campaign to fill food bank shelves this summer.

Running from May 23 to June 9, the national campaign is timed at a crucial point in the year. According to Food Banks Canada, donations are at their lowest from June to August.

“With the warm, summer days, the issue of hunger is often the last thing many Canadians are thinking about, but it’s a problem that persists year-round,” said Katharine Schmidt, Food Banks Canada’s executive director in a release. “In fact, this summer just under a million Canadians will turn to food banks for help and we want to make sure every plate they need is full.”

Summer is also a difficult time for struggling families as school supported breakfast and lunch programs tend to close with the schools for the holidays. And since one out of every three people turning to food banks are children, Food Banks Canada says school holidays coupled with a drop in summer donations creates “tremendous stress” on families that rely on food banks.

With #EveryPlateFull, Food Banks Canada is calling on Canadians to donate to a local food bank either online or in person and to spread the word via social media. Says Schmidt: “With every dollar donated, food banks are able to provide three meals to Canadians in need.”

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