Food banks in Greater Victoria are setting unfortunate records in terms of growth and the face of those using services is changing rapidly and often.
People coming through the doors at The Mustard Seed Street Church food bank, and the related food rescue, are increasingly anyone – colleague, neighbour or friend – even those in a double-income household, says executive director Treska Watson.
“Our food rescue program impacts 65,000 people per month; we know that’s 10 to 15 per cent of people in Victoria,” Watson told the Victoria News. “One of every 10 people you cross paths with in Victoria is using rescued food in some way to feed their families.”
The demand is growing exponentially, up 24 per cent over 2024, which was up 24 per cent over the year before – Mustard Seed statistics show a 170 per cent increase in use since 2020.
“We’re already seeing a record-breaking pace for this year. The first few months of 2025 are showing to be even busier,” Watson said. “It’s not just a certain group of people. Lots of people are struggling in many ways.”
It’s a story familiar to the operations manager at the Sidney-based food bank that helps people on the Peninsula.
“Our numbers have not gone down in the last five years, they’ve been steadily growing, and we’re just seeing a lot more families and seniors needing to access our services out here,” said Tyson Elder, of the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank.
A concerning trend is that those who formerly supported the service now come to make ends meet.
“We try to be very welcoming here, especially when seniors come through,” Elder said, noting many face both the loss of a partner and a pension. “For a long time, a lot of these people who are now accessing our food bank, some of them were donors, now they just don’t have the extra income.”
Families are also facing tiny cuts – including sacrificing kids’ sports and hobbies, in the bid to stay ahead.
“People are having a tough time right now; they have been for a while now, and I don’t think it’s getting easier out there at all,” Elder said. “We’re watching families struggle.”
An expected and different story is playing out on the West Shore. Hitting a crescendo in late 2024, the Goldstream Food Bank actually saw a plateau and dip to start 2025.
The numbers spiked in 2023 and 2024, up about 150 per cent of the norm, said Gayle Ireland. Many of the lift was attributed to international students post-pandemic, refugees and international labour programs.
“Now it’s flattened out a little bit.” December saw 609 hampers go out, and March is down to 462, just shy of the more usual 500 from before 2022.
“We don’t know why,” Ireland said. “We’re not sure where it’s going to go with all the disruption in the world. But we’re prepared to help people.”
The all-time high also coincided with record donations, she noted, adding residents and businesses came through as they always do. It meant 1,600 banana boxes of quality, well-within best-before grocery donations. “We’re chipping away at that and making good use of that,” Ireland said.
All three agencies emphasize their desire to help, with a smile, kindness and even a snack, knowing it’s a big deal for many to even show up.
“We’re just happy to be here and provide a space that is safe and for people to access food,” Elder said.
And the shelves are always ready, though that too has been a challenge in both Victoria and on the Peninsula.
“We’re already stretched with demand … the need for food is outpacing donations,” Watson said, adding food rescue is not an infinite solution. “So far this year, we’ve had to dip into our reserves. That’s just not sustainable. I don’t know where this is going, and that’s scary.”
Donation needs are as varied as the clientele the agencies serve. All three have online options, at goldstreamfoodbank.org, mustardseed.ca and splfoodbank.com, with information on how to donate food.
“Victoria is a crazy generous city,” Watson said. “But that’s unfortunately needed more than ever right now.”
