Feed Ontario Explained

Feed Ontario
Formation:	2019
Predecessor:	Ontario Association of Food Banks (1992–2019)
Type:	food bank network
Website:	https://feedontario.ca/

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

History

Ontario Association of Food Banks

Ontario Association of Food Banks
Formation:	1992
Abbreviation:	OAFB
Successor:	Feed Ontario
Dissolved:	2019
Website:	http://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

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

See also

• List of food banks

External links

• Official Website of the Ontario Association of Food Banks (OAFB) (defunct)
• Official website of Feed Ontario

Notes and References

1. 2019-02-11 . Ontario Association of Food Banks Announces Name Change to Feed Ontario . 2023-03-03 . GlobeNewswire News Room . en.
2. Web site: Theriault . Tania . 31 January 2023 . New food bank facility aims to address the growing hunger issue . 2023-03-03 . BurlingtonToday.com . en.
3. Web site: About the OAFB – Ontario Association of Food Banks. oafb.ca. 2016-09-22. 2016-09-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20160923014718/https://oafb.ca/about/about-the-oafb/. dead.
4. Web site: About the OAFB – Ontario Association of Food Banks. oafb.ca. 2016-09-22. 2016-09-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20160923014718/https://oafb.ca/about/about-the-oafb/. dead.
5. Web site: 2015 Hunger Report. 2016-09-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20160923012210/https://oafb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Hunger-Report-Final-Web.pdf. dead.
6. News: 2015-10-24. Feeding the hungry takes an innovative spirit. Maxwell, Judith. The Globe and Mail. December 17, 2007.
7. News: 2007-12-30. Greenbox Christmas. The Toronto Star. December 8, 2007.