The Ottawa Food Bank has released the 2019 Ottawa Hunger Report, which stresses the need for change in the city. When we become a city without hunger, it will truly benefit us all.

When families and individuals are lifted out of poverty, they are not only healthier, but they can now actively participate in their community.

Last year, we provided over 2.5 million pounds of fresh food. Our ability to provide high quality food can have a big impact on health. We are committed to a providing healthy food and our member agencies are doing food banking better by also focusing on supporting wrap around service that connect clients to resources that address the root causes of food insecurity.

But, while good food and innovation in food banking are making great strides to decrease poor health outcomes and isolation with our clients, food insecurity and poverty still needs to be addressed systemically. This means government involvement and policy changes.

That is why we are stressing the need for a municipal Poverty Reduction Strategy.