‘The face that we’re seeing is a poverty stricken family:’ Montreal food bank

The West Island Mission in Montreal is seeing more and more poverty-stricken families as food insecurity remains a serious issue.

It’s late November, and at West Island Mission, that means it’s time for the annual Porch to Pantry drive.

“We need to fill these shelves. [...] They’re empty,” said executive director Suzanne Scarrow.

Just after the COVID-19 pandemic, the food bank served 250 families. This year, Scarrow says they’ll serve more than 500 families - and the demographic is evolving.

“The face that we’re seeing is a poverty-stricken family. We used to see a working-class poor, and now we’re seeing people who are really struggling. Scurvy, oral hygiene issues, not taking care of their health at all,” she tells CTV News.

That’s why the team is working hard to fill the gap. They’re driving door-to-door to collect non-perishable goods for food baskets that will feed thousands.

“Lots of high-quality stuff that people need is expensive,” says Pointe-Claire Mayor John Belvedere.

“Hunger is something that goes on every day, every hour, every month. And we always think that around the holiday season is very important [to donate]. We’ve got to do this multiple times during the year,” he urges.

According to Food Banks of Quebec (FBQ), organizations in the network receive more than 3 million requests for food assistance each month. That’s nearly a 40 per cent increase over the last three years.

To solve the problem, Véronique Beaulieu-Fowler says getting a clearer picture of those facing food insecurity is key.

By March 2026, food banks in the network will be encouraged to share information like clients’ marital, educational and immigration status.

“We want to ensure that there’s real time data being collected by these organizations and transmitted to us,” Beaulieu-Fowler says.

“The goal is never to stigmatize or to refuse help or to categorize people. But it’s to make sure that we can respond to people who have specific needs and make sure that our system bolsters that,” she explains.

Clients will have the option to choose what they disclose to some extent.

Meanwhile, at West Island Mission, there’s only one question that remains the same - how to end food insecurity.