Children are the highest risk age group for food insecurity in Canada. Children under 18 represent on average 30% of food bank users, even though they represent only about 20% of the general population. Food insecurity is highly detrimental to children’s health and wellbeing, and social and academic development, and places them at risk for poor health and greater prevalence of illness.
Food insecurity impacts children’s wellbeing, and social and academic development. Food insecurity has been linked to lower test scores at school, trouble interacting with peers, and poorer quality of health.
School-age children must have sufficient access to nutritious food that will promote their development. While Canada’s National School Food Program was introduced as a strategy for increasing access to nutritional food for students, there are gaps in the program, and not all children can benefit from it.
The Food Bank of York Region launched its School Food Pantry Program in late 2022 to support food pantry programs in schools across York Region. This program provides access to fresh and nutritious food to food-insecure students and their families throughout the school year.
In 2026, the Ontario Trillium Foundation provided a grant to FBYR to grow the School Food Pantry Program, currently supporting 13 schools, to support 52 schools across York Region over the next three years.
“Inflation, the increasing number of families relying on low-wage work, and the exorbitant cost of housing in York Region means more families, many who have never experienced food insecurity before, are now relying on help from others.
We welcome the support of the Food Bank of York Region to establish supports in our schools that contribute to food security for students and families,” said Yvonne Kelly, Community and Partnership Developer with York Region District School Board (YRDSB).—"Food Bank of York Region expands into schools,” Markham Review
Join our mission to continue ensuring children have the food they need to have the energy to play, to learn, and to grow, and the opportunity to thrive!
