Not every record is one to celebrate. That’s the case with the alarming record-high levels of requests for food assistance reported by the FBQ.
Once again, the SAQ is calling on its customers and employees to provide support and a little relief to the hundreds of thousands of Quebecers currently dealing with food insecurity.
With school starting and all the extra expenses involved, the SAQ is proud to maintain its commitment to the FBQ. Having to buy school supplies, clothing and food puts significant financial pressure on many families. Lending a hand helps ensure children can start the school year with a full stomach. This is why, from August 21 to 31, the SAQ will give two meals to Food Banks of Quebec for every Origine Québec product sold. Customers who want to contribute more will also be able to make a donation to the FBQ at the checkout counter.
Constantly growing requests
The need is enormous and continues to skyrocket. People experiencing food insecurity have all kinds of profiles:
- The number of food assistance requests answered each month has increased one million since 2021 to reach 2.9 million today;
- 556,018 unique persons are assisted through the various services each month;
- 47% of assisted households via food aid are families with children. The number of children assisted has increased 43,000 since 2021.
A heartfelt partnership
It was in 2011, when the FQB network sounded the alarm due to a lack of resources, that the SAQ became aware of the scale of the needs to be met and decided to make food assistance its main corporate cause.