Region of Peel declares food insecurity a crisis, giving $2 million to help struggling food banks

The Region of Peel has acknowledged the severity of food insecurity, allocating an extra $2 million in funding for food banks in its 2024 budget. Meghan Nicholls, CEO of Food Banks Mississauga, highlighted the dire situation during a presentation to Peel regional council, emphasizing increased demand and decreased donations due to rising living costs. Some food banks are struggling to meet demand, facing shortages of essential items like turkeys for Christmas. Brampton councillor Rowena Santos expressed concern about the escalating problem and called for more intervention from provincial and federal governments to support vulnerable citizens. Council voted to allocate the additional funding, drawn from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve, to address the pressing issue.