A senior, who had worked his entire life, calls a food bank in Montreal. He tells staff he is embarrassed and only needs a few basics—milk, bread, something to get him through the week. Shortly after, a mother arrives, explaining that she has started eating less so her children can eat more. A student juggling two part-time jobs comes in near closing time, apologizing for the trouble. The rent increase was higher than expected, and after covering transit and utilities, nothing is left.

Such encounters now account for the growing share of those showing up at food banks in record-breaking numbers. In March 2025 alone, there were nearly 2.2 million visits across Canada—the highest ever logged.

Quebec is no exception. A recent report commissioned by Food Banks of Quebec, which supports roughly 1,400 local community organizations in the province, shows monthly requests for food assistance surpassed 3 million last year—a jump of 37 percent since 2022. These unprecedented numbers raise serious questions about whether the system can keep pace, especially as the organization projects monthly visits to climb to nearly 4 million by 2028.

“There’s no light at the end of the tunnel whatsoever,” says Matias Duque, director of philanthropy for Canada’s largest food bank, Moisson Montréal. “Demand is not going down.” Over 2024 and 2025, Moisson Montréal distributed 23.7 million kilograms of basic goods—including meat, pantry staples, milk, fresh fruits, and vegetables—valued at $187 million.

Duque blames housing, transportation, and food, expenses that dominate most budgets, for driving people to food banks.........

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