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By Mzwandile Poncana, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Mississauga.com
February 13, 2025
Food Banks Mississauga has laid off 16 per cent of its paid workforce and cancelled two programs in an effort to sustain operations as demand for emergency food assistance surges.
The organization announced the restructuring in a Feb. 12 news release. The cuts, which eliminates seven staff positions, is aimed at preserving food supply levels for the more than 56,000 residents who rely on the organization and its network of over 60 programs.
According to Food Banks Mississauga, food bank usage in Mississauga has reached an all-time high, with one in 13 residents accessing services due to rising living costs and social supports not keeping pace. The organization projects it will be serving 100,000 visitors by 2027 — nearly double its current numbers.
“We have been forced to make this painful, but necessary, decision to lay off staff and cancel programs to preserve our resources to support food bank visitors,” Meghan Nicholls, CEO of Food Banks Mississauga, stated in the news release.
“This is one of the most difficult decisions we’ve had to make as an organization, and unfortunately, it is the only path forward to maintain the same level of service we provide to our community.”
One of the cancelled initiatives is the pop-up food bank program, which began in 2021 and operated during warmer months in Malton. It provided free, fresh food as a supplemental service to neighbourhood food banks and other food programs in the high-priority area.
Another discontinued program is the Capacity Building Fund. Launched in 2022, the fund provided grants to agency members to enhance food bank operations, collect data or purchase equipment.
The organization has emphasized that despite these changes, its core mission remains unchanged.
“Food insecurity has been declared an emergency in Mississauga and as an organization whose mission is to provide healthy food, our vital work can never pause and we must prioritize feeding people for the long term,” said Nicholls.
However, Nicholls pointed to broader systemic issues contributing to food insecurity, arguing government inaction on poverty and food security has put increasing strain on food banks.
“Food banks have been a Band-Aid solution for gaps in government social assistance programs for far too long, and our restructuring is a direct result of this Band-Aid being stretched too far,” Nicholls said.
Despite ongoing community support, the organization says donations have not kept pace with the growing need for assistance. The organization continues to encourage donations, noting $84 can provide a family with a week’s worth of food. It is also urging residents consider candidates’ commitments to tackling poverty and food insecurity when voting in the upcoming provincial elections.
Food Banks Mississauga is directing those who wish to contribute to visit their website, where they can make financial donations.
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— With files from Steve Cornwell