Latest news with #DanielleSeward
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Canada food crisis: One in three kids suffers from food insecurity, highest rate in 20 years
The demand for food assistance escalates dramatically as summer approaches, placing increased pressure on businesses and charities. Danielle Seward, executive director of the Single Parents Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, describes the surge in food bank visits as 'exponential,' highlighting how the end of the school year leaves many families scrambling for snacks and lunches. 'It's a bit of an untold story,' Seward says, 'just how stressful the summer months can be for food-insecure single parents.' Data from Statistics Canada reveals that close to 10 million Canadians now live in food-insecure households, a steep rise from 5.8 million in 2021. This includes marginal food insecurity , where households worry about running out of food, to severe cases where meals are skipped entirely. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your IQ Is 140 If You Can Answer 10 Of These Questions Correctly IQ International Undo Also read: International students in Canada face food insecurity amid food bank access restrictions Food insecurity among children is even more alarming, with nearly 2.5 million kids affected, about one-third of all Canadian children. That estimate in Newfoundland and Labrador is even higher (40 per cent), tied with New Brunswick for the highest of the 10 provinces. Live Events According to the PROOF research program at the University of Toronto , the estimates are the highest in 20 years of monitoring. Challenge for businesses and nonprofits This growing food insecurity impacts businesses, from local grocery stores to larger food suppliers, as charitable organizations face increasing demand for donations and supplies. In St. John's, Seward points out that 'it's not just single-parent families without a steady income,' but also 'professional, working single parents' who are increasingly food insecure. The rising numbers push businesses and community groups to rethink their roles. Many are stepping up through partnerships with nonprofits to fundraise and support food bank programs, especially as demand spikes during summer when school meals are unavailable. The nonprofit sector, traditionally reliant on donations and government support, now calls for innovative collaborations to meet growing needs. Also read : Is Canada Post on the verge of shutting down? Government initiatives and school food programs Provincial and federal governments are investing in school food programs, which serve as a crucial pressure release valve for families. Newfoundland and Labrador plan to expand a school lunch program currently serving 43 schools. Ashley Byrne of Food First NL is coordinating consultations for this expansion, which will soon enter a competitive bidding process for service providers. The federal government's national school food program, launched in September 2024 with a $1 billion budget over five years, aims to partner with provinces and businesses to broaden access. This policy presents opportunities for companies involved in food production, distribution, and program delivery to participate in growing initiatives designed to combat food insecurity. Brent Mansfield, an elementary school teacher from British Columbia, praises these programs, noting their impact on student focus and classroom engagement. 'When we offer school food programs in a non-stigmatizing way, they have that opportunity to be a great social equalizer,' he said.
CTV News
22-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Food insecurity in Canada is jumping — and it's even higher among children
As the school year wanes and summer closes in, volunteers at the Single Parents Association of Newfoundland and Labrador prepare for a surprisingly busy time of year. When the final school bell rings on June 26, sending children off for summer vacation, visits to the charity's food bank will jump. 'We will see exponential numbers coming to our food bank in the next couple of months,' said Danielle Seward, the organization's executive director. 'Just looking for snacks and lunches to get through until September.' Danielle Seward Executive director of Single Parents Association of Newfoundland and Labrador Danielle Seward. 'It's a bit of an untold story; just how stressful the summer months can be for food-insecure single parents.' Volunteers are busy fundraising, trying to stock the shelves for the upcoming summer rush — but it seems like the need never stops growing. The latest data compiled by Statistics Canada showed yet another increase in the proportion of Canadians living in food-insecure households. Data collected in 2021 showed 5.8 million Canadians qualified. Data collected in 2024 brought the statistic up to almost 10 million. The measure can range from marginal food insecurity — worrying about running out of food or limiting selections because of money — all the way to severe food insecurity, where individuals skip meals to make ends meet. According to the PROOF research program at the University of Toronto, the estimates are the highest in 20 years of monitoring. Among Canadian children, the percentages are even higher. The data shows almost 2.5 million children live in food-insecure households, which is about one-third of all children in the country. That estimate in Newfoundland and Labrador is even higher — 40 per cent — tied with New Brunswick for the highest of the 10 provinces. In St. John's, Seward says hunger is hitting more families than ever before, and there's no single profile for who is likeliest to make an appointment for their services. 'It's not just single-parent families that don't have a solidified income,' she said. 'In a lot of cases, it's professional, working single parents.' The diverse nature of that hungry population, she said, makes it even harder for policymakers to target spending programs. 'At one point in time, I would say that our clientele would have appreciated an increase in government support,' Seward said. 'At this time, our clientele is so diverse that — yes, we have clientele that are on income support, we have some that are on employment insurance, but we also have some that are full-time employed.' To tackle childhood hunger, Newfoundland and Labrador is investing in a broader, province-wide school lunch program, aiming to expand the existing offering, which serves 43 schools, to more regions in the coming years. Ashley Byrne, a coordinator with Food First NL, is leading consultation work about the planned expansion. She told CTV News the provincial government will soon issue a request for proposals to invite providers to bid for program delivery. 'These school food programs, they're a bit of a pressure release valve,' she said. 'They help make things go a little bit further at home.' In September 2024, the federal government unveiled a national school food program policy. It wields a budget of about $1 billion over five years to work with provinces and expand local food delivery programs across the country. The program's national policy calls for Ottawa to work towards universal access to school food programs by expanding the pieces already put in place. B.C. Elementary School teacher Brent Mansfield has been touring across the country, trying to advocate for bigger and richer school food programs. He said he's seen their success firsthand, at his own school in Vancouver, helping students come ready to learn in his classrooms, with improved ability to focus and participate in class discussions. 'When we offer school food programs in a non-stigmatizing way, they have that opportunity to be a great social equalizer,' he said.
CTV News
21-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Food insecurity in Canada is jumping — and it's even higher among children
As the school year wanes and summer closes in, volunteers at the Single Parents Association of Newfoundland and Labrador prepare for a surprisingly busy time of year. When the final school bell rings on June 26, sending children off for summer vacation, visits to the charity's food bank will jump. 'We will see exponential numbers coming to our food bank in the next couple of months,' said Danielle Seward, the organization's executive director. 'Just looking for snacks and lunches to get through until September.' Danielle Seward Executive director of Single Parents Association of Newfoundland and Labrador Danielle Seward. 'It's a bit of an untold story; just how stressful the summer months can be for food-insecure single parents.' Volunteers are busy fundraising, trying to stock the shelves for the upcoming summer rush — but it seems like the need never stops growing. The latest data compiled by Statistics Canada showed yet another increase in the proportion of Canadians living in food-insecure households. Data collected in 2021 showed 5.8 million Canadians qualified. Data collected in 2024 brought the statistic up to almost 10 million. The measure can range from marginal food insecurity — worrying about running out of food or limiting selections because of money — all the way to severe food insecurity, where individuals skip meals to make ends meet. According to the PROOF research program at the University of Toronto, the estimates are the highest in 20 years of monitoring. Among Canadian children, the percentages are even higher. The data shows almost 2.5 million children live in food-insecure households, which is about one-third of all children in the country. That estimate in Newfoundland and Labrador is even higher — 40 per cent — tied with New Brunswick for the highest of the 10 provinces. In St. John's, Seward says hunger is hitting more families than ever before, and there's no single profile for who is likeliest to make an appointment for their services. 'It's not just single-parent families that don't have a solidified income,' she said. 'In a lot of cases, it's professional, working single parents.' The diverse nature of that hungry population, she said, makes it even harder for policymakers to target spending programs. 'At one point in time, I would say that our clientele would have appreciated an increase in government support,' Seward said. 'At this time, our clientele is so diverse that — yes, we have clientele that are on income support, we have some that are on employment insurance, but we also have some that are full-time employed.' To tackle childhood hunger, Newfoundland and Labrador is investing in a broader, province-wide school lunch program, aiming to expand the existing offering, which serves 43 schools, to more regions in the coming years. Ashley Byrne, a coordinator with Food First NL, is leading consultation work about the planned expansion. She told CTV News the provincial government will soon issue a request for proposals to invite providers to bid for program delivery. 'These school food programs, they're a bit of a pressure release valve,' she said. 'They help make things go a little bit further at home.' In September 2024, the federal government unveiled a national school food program policy. It wields a budget of about $1 billion over five years to work with provinces and expand local food delivery programs across the country. The program's national policy calls for Ottawa to work towards universal access to school food programs by expanding the pieces already put in place. B.C. Elementary School teacher Brent Mansfield has been touring across the country, trying to advocate for bigger and richer school food programs. He said he's seen their success firsthand, at his own school in Vancouver, helping students come ready to learn in his classrooms, with improved ability to focus and participate in class discussions. 'When we offer school food programs in a non-stigmatizing way, they have that opportunity to be a great social equalizer,' he said.
