Food bank usage rises globally due to increasing cost of living

Food banks in Canada and France are reporting significant increases in demand as rising costs for housing, food, and transportation erode financial buffers for many households.

In Canada, the HungerCount Report 2026 indicates that food banks recorded 2.35 million visits in a single month, a 117% increase compared to 2019. In Salmon Arm, The Lighthouse Food Bank reported a 22.5% increase in households accessing support and a 35.9% increase in visits during the first nine months of 2026 compared to the previous year. In Sainte-Anne, Manitoba, the local food bank is serving 113 households, noting that the number of beneficiaries is rising alongside the cost of living.

In France, the Alsace region sees nearly 100,000 beneficiaries supported by the food bank network. Organizations like Repartir in Schaffhouse-près-Seltz report that while some individuals require long-term assistance, many are families struggling with low wages and limited rural mobility.