December 2,2025
RED FM News Desk
A new Food Banks BC report shows that record numbers of British Columbians relied on food banks this year, including many people working full-time jobs. Executive director Dan Huang-Taylor warned that what was once an emergency resource is becoming a normalized and entrenched necessity for thousands.
In March 2025 alone, 113,606 people used a food bank in B.C.—a nine per cent increase from 2024 and a 44 per cent rise since before the pandemic. The report estimates that 1.3 million residents, or 24.4 per cent of the population, are experiencing food insecurity. Children account for a significant portion of clients, with 33,000 receiving food bank support in 2025, representing 31 per cent of users.
Huang-Taylor noted that the number of unique monthly clients now regularly exceeds 100,000. Many food banks are also reporting shortages of donations, which limit how much they can distribute.
The data shows a continued rise not only in overall visits, but also in the number of families and employed individuals seeking help. Users cited soaring food and housing costs that far outpace stagnant wages; the average Canadian household is expected to spend $800 more on groceries in 2025.
Food Banks BC stressed that food banks are not a solution to food insecurity and said long-term fixes must come through government policy. The organization is calling for investments in the charitable food sector, clear targets for reducing food insecurity, improved wages and income supports, and stronger support for Indigenous food sovereignty initiatives.
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