County council will be asked to proclaim Hunger Action Month

Food Bank By Joel Muniz. Free Use Domain. Upsplash

By: Cecilia Nasmith, Northumberland 89.7 FM News

Northumberland County

At its Aug. 13 meeting, Northumberland County council will be asked to proclaim September as Hunger Action Month, following a presentation by Ontario Works Manager Jennifer Glover at Wednesdays meeting of its Social Services Committee.

In Northumberland, Glover's report said, Food 4 All and 12 local food banks work to address food insecurity that is now widespread across Canada among all walks of life – seniors, people with disabilities, families and even people working at full-time jobs.

In the year between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, more than one-million Ontario individuals turned to a food bank for help in seven-million visits. In Northumberland, 5,889 individuals sought this help – 30% of them aged 17 or younger – in 65,164 visits This represents an 11% increase over the year before.

Local health unit statistics estimate that 18.2% of the households in its catchment area are food-insecure.

“Any contribution to any food bank is welcome – nothing goes to waste,” Glover said.

“We know food banks are doing incredible work on the ground, and usually with volunteers only.”