Food Banks Canada has released the results of its annual “HungerCount” survey.
The organization tracked how many visits were made to the country’s food banks in March of 2018.
In New Brunswick, there were 20,627 visits to food banks, including 7,939 in rural areas.
Children made up 31.5 per cent, which is slightly lower than the national average of 35.2 per cent.
35% of those relying on food banks nationally are children, when they only represent 20% of the population. This is unacceptable and it needs to change. To learn more, read #HungerCount 2018: https://t.co/4GLu75rPes pic.twitter.com/rM1s6wmgNy
— Food Banks Canada (@foodbankscanada) February 6, 2019
Single people made up most of the visits at 46.3 per cent, followed by two-parent and single parent families.
About 68 per cent said their primary source of income is social assistance or provincial disability-related supports.
Food Banks Canada has made four policy recommendations to the federal government to help reduce the need for food banks.
They include a basic income for all Canadians, creating standardized, affordable early learning and childcare across the country, increasing supports for single adults living with low incomes, and reducing northern food insecurity.
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