Several food charities across Canada have signed onto a campaign called "Put Food Banks Out of Business."A volunteer opens a box during a Food Banks Canada packing drive at the International Centre in Mississauga, Ont., on May 15. Josh Smee imagines a future in which food banks no longer exist in Canada, because people don't need them.
"I think one of the most important gifts we can give alongside cash is the gift of our voice," Smee said. Josh Smee, the CEO of Food First Newfoundland and Labrador, says people experiencing food insecurity want policy change, not charity. "I think that the gravity of the situation is not understood by decision makers or maybe even broader community members, because what's happening on the front line is food banks are just scrambling for resources," she said. "This is not sustainable for any of us."
"Optically, it's almost like we give the government a break by being here and looking like we're taking care of it. We kind of take pressure off the government to actually solve the problem."