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By Alice McFarlane

Drive Away Hunger

Farm Credit Canada fights food insecurity with campaign

Feb 24, 2026 | 11:53 AM

Food insecurity in Canada remains a critical issue.  

More than 10 million people live in households that don’t always have enough food, including nearly one in three children.  

The Farm Credit Canada (FCC) Drive Away Hunger Campaign donated 635 million meals in 2025, helping families put nutritious meals on the table, easing pressure on household budgets, and reducing food waste across Canada.  

Every year, partners across the agri-food industry, including producers, processors, distributors, retailers, and food companies, voluntarily redirect surplus food from across the supply chain to curb food waste and support families.  

The donated meals are valued over $2.25 billion, equivalent to about 63 meals per person a year.  

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FCC president and CEO Justine Hendricks said food insecurity affects families, neighbours and communities.  

“These donations are not just statistics,” Hendricks said. “They can represent the difference between going to bed hungry and having food on the table, and they leave money for other essentials like rent, heat, or a child’s winter coat. The goal is to make sure food that would otherwise go to waste reaches family tables where it is needed.”   

More than 10 million people live in households that do not always have enough food, including nearly one in three children. The HungerCount 2025 report from Food Banks Canada showed that food bank usage rose by 5.2 per cent, with many people relying on food banks being working Canadians managing tight budgets.    

These donations are made possible through food rescue services such as Second Harvest and FoodMesh, which help coordinate the safe and timely redistribution of surplus food by matching donors with local charities and community groups, and managing pickups and transportation.  

Hendricks said this achievement reflects the sustained commitment to supporting communities by Drive Away Hunger partners across Canada’s agriculture and food sector. 

“By working together year after year, partners are delivering food to communities at a scale made possible through industry collaboration,” she said.   

For more than 20 years, Drive Away Hunger has been a year-round initiative that continues to welcome new partners to join the fight against food insecurity in Canada. FCC is one of over 100 Drive Away Hunger partners. 

A full list of partner agencies is available here.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com