A new survey by Second Harvest and Ipsos reveals that 89% of non-profits across Canada saw an increase in demand for food charity services over the past year. However, 35% of these organizations had to turn people away due to limited resources or food availability, with an average of 269 individuals turned away by those affected. Vivian Etuka from Bethel Outreach Community Services highlights the personal impact of having to refuse assistance, noting that many seeking aid are working adults and even professionals like nurses and teachers struggling to make ends meet despite employment.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
A recent Ipsos survey conducted by the National Network of Non-Profits and Second Harvest reveals that 23% of food banks and shelters in Canada have been forced to turn away people due to high demand and limited resources. The survey, which includes responses from over 1,600 organizations, found that 89% reported an increase in demand for food over the past year. Vivian Etuka from Bethel Outreach Community Services in Etobicoke, Ontario, noted that it is heartbreaking to have to create waitlists due to overwhelming need. On average, those with waitlists had around 878 people waiting, and 40% of organizations reported turning away more than 50 individuals. Lori Nikkel, CEO of Second Harvest, emphasized the irony of having enough food in Canada while still witnessing waste and organizational struggle.
Written for “Food Bank Demand Soars” on 2026-10-08,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.25, but all 1 of its quote(s) are attributed speech - words the article quotes from someone, not the article's own narration, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 64222: attributed speech only · logged 2026-10-07
Even as more Canadians turn to them for help, food banks and shelters say they’re struggling to keep up with a new survey showing some are having to turn people away.
asserted
some → turn → people
The State of Food Charity in Canada, produced by the National Network of Non-Profits and conducted by Ipsos, shows 89 per cent of non-profits across the Second Harvest network saw an increase in demand for food in the past year.
asserted
cent → produce → year
Yet 33 per cent said they have a waitlist for providing support, and 35 per cent had to turn people away either due to limited food available or lack of resources.
asserted
cent → say → resources
“The demand is so high for food right now that it breaks my heart and everybody when we have to say we have a waiting list,” said Vivian Etuka with Bethel Outreach Community Services in Etobicoke, Ont.
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Etuka → break → Etobicoke
Second Harvest works with nearly 2,500 organizations across the country, including food banks and shelters, to help feed people.
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Harvest → work → people
More than 1,600 responded to the survey.
asserted
1,600 → respond → survey
Among those organizations that had a waitlist, the survey reports the average number of people was 878.
asserted
number → have → people
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It was estimated that of those who turned people away, two in five had to refuse more than 50 people.
asserted
five → get → people
According to Second Harvest, an average of 269 people were turned away.
uncertain
average → accord → people
“When we talk about people that come to food banks, these are your neighbours, your coworkers; we’re seeing nurses at the food bank,” said Etuka.
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Etuka → talk → bank
“I’ve never seen more teachers.”
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I → see → teachers
It’s not just working adults either.
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It → ’ → ?
Jamie Seabrook, a researcher and professor in epidemiology and biostatistics, said there’s a diversity of food bank clients, young and old, and working and not working.
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Seabrook → say → clients
“It (the survey) dispels the myth that those who use food banks are all unemployed,” Seabrook said.
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Seabrook → dispel → banks
“People that are earning an income are not getting enough income to support the rising cost.”
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that → earn → cost
According to Second Harvest, 49 per cent of the groups surveyed don’t access food or other supports through the federal, provincial or regional food bank network.
uncertain
cent → accord → network
What the survey also showed was 36 per cent of the food that’s available at the organizations surveyed comes from Second Harvest and 91 per cent say the network helps them offer more food.
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them → show → food
Another 80 per cent say Second Harvest provides more healthy and nutritious food.
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Harvest → say → food
“Canada has enough food to come out of this situation, but too much good food is still going to waste while organizations supporting people are struggling to keep up with demand,” said Lori Nikkel, CEO of Second Harvest, in a statement.
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Nikkel → have → statement
Both Second Harvest and the organizations surveyed urged action as Canadians continue to struggle with food insecurity, saying affordable housing and matching social assistance to rising prices takes time.
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matching → survey → time
By helping food banks now, those who rely on them will also get help, they said.
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they → help → help
“When we put families, or when we see wait lists or we have to turn somebody around, hunger doesn’t go on a wait list; that parent is still hungry, that parent still has to provide for the family,” Etuka said.
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Etuka → put → family
The federal government says it is reviewing the survey and said it will be responsive as Canadians navigate uncertainty in food costs.
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Canadians → say → costs
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