Feed Ontario, formerly Ontario Association of Food Banks (OAFB),[1][2] is a food bank network in the Canadian province of Ontario.

Feed Ontario
PredecessorOntario Association of Food Banks (1992–2019)
Formation2019
Typefood bank network
Websitehttps://feedontario.ca/

History

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Ontario Association of Food Banks

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Ontario Association of Food Banks
AbbreviationOAFB
SuccessorFeed Ontario
Formation1992
Dissolved2019
Websitehttp://www.oafb.ca (defunct)

Founded in 1992, the OAFB represented 125 food banks, and over 1,100 hunger-relief organizations across the province, including: urban and rural food banks, community kitchens, breakfast clubs and school meal programs, community food centres, emergency shelters, and seniors' facilities.[3] The mission of the Ontario Association of Food Banks was to "strengthen communities by providing food banks with food, resources, and solutions that address both short and long-term food insecurity."[4]

Every year, the OAFB released a research report on hunger and food bank use in Ontario. In 2015, the OAFB Hunger Report[5] revealed:

  • 358,963 people accessed food banks across Ontario in March 2015, with 120,554 of those clients being children under 18 years of age
  • 35% increase in senior citizens visiting food banks over the previous year
  • 49% of food bank clients are single-person households
  • 90% of food bank clients are either rental or social housing tenants
  • Over 12% of senior citizens fall below Ontario’s Low Income Measure. This number more than doubles to 27% when looking at seniors who also identify as single
  • Senior citizens are expected to represent 23% of the population by 2030
  • Single person households represent almost 50% of those who visit food banks, an 11% increase over the past 5 years
  • The average food bank client spends 70% of their income on rent, leaving very little for all other necessities
  • 1 in 3 jobs in Ontario is temporary, contract, or part-time. An individual working full-time, at minimum-wage will have an annual income of approximately $21,000, falling well below Ontario’s Low Income Measure

In 2007, the OAFB had been noted for innovative programming by The Globe and Mail[6] and the Toronto Star.[7]

Rebranding

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On 11 February 2019, the organization changed its name to 'Feed Ontario' to better reflect its modern activities that have evolved since the past.[1][2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Ontario Association of Food Banks Announces Name Change to Feed Ontario". GlobeNewswire News Room (Press release). 2019-02-11. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  2. ^ a b Theriault, Tania (31 January 2023). "New food bank facility aims to address the growing hunger issue". BurlingtonToday.com. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  3. ^ "About the OAFB – Ontario Association of Food Banks". oafb.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-09-23. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  4. ^ "About the OAFB – Ontario Association of Food Banks". oafb.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-09-23. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  5. ^ "2015 Hunger Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-09-23.
  6. ^ Maxwell, Judith (December 17, 2007). "Feeding the hungry takes an innovative spirit". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2015-10-24.
  7. ^ "Greenbox Christmas". The Toronto Star. December 8, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-30.
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