Food bank donations fund an organization that was never supposed to exist this long. You're stopped at a red light. Four cars around you. One of those drivers doesn't know where their next meal is coming from. You can't tell which one. The first food banks in Canada wrote sunset clauses into their bylaws. Five years maximum. The government would solve this. Forty-five years later, 2.2 million visits happen every month.

Twenty-three percent of food banks ran out of food before meeting demand last year. That's not a distribution problem. That's a math problem. Eighty percent of food banks now purchase food to fill gaps, up from fifty percent. Your ten-dollar cash donation buys what costs you triple at the grocery store. Thirty percent of food banks run entirely on volunteers. Many of those volunteers are also food bank clients. They're working shifts between precarious employment hours, giving back to the system keeping them fed.

The system was designed to be temporary. It's becoming permanent infrastructure. One in four Canadians need it now. That's the baseline, not the crisis. The question isn't whether you donate food or cash anymore. It's whether you're willing to send five minutes of emails to elected officials demanding they address why this is still necessary.

Topics: food bank donations, food insecurity rates, volunteer opportunities, poverty advocacy, charitable contributions

GUEST: Erin Filey-Wronecki | http://foodbankscanada.ca

Originally aired on 2026-02-02

Food bank donations fund an organization that was never supposed to exist this long. You're stopped at a red light. Four cars around you. One of those drivers doesn't know where their next meal is coming from. You can't tell which one. The first food banks in Canada wrote sunset clauses into their bylaws. Five years maximum. The government would solve this. Forty-five years later, 2.2 million visits happen every month.
Twenty-three percent of food banks ran out of food before meeting demand last year. That's not a distribution problem. That's a math problem. Eighty percent of food banks now purchase food to fill gaps, up from fifty percent. Your ten-dollar cash donation buys what costs you triple at the grocery store. Thirty percent of food banks run entirely on volunteers. Many of those volunteers are also food bank clients. They're working shifts between precarious employment hours, giving back to the system keeping them fed.
The system was designed to be temporary. It's becoming permanent infrastructure. One in four Canadians need it now. That's the baseline, not the crisis. The question isn't whether you donate food or cash anymore. It's whether you're willing to send five minutes of emails to elected officials demanding they address why this is still necessary.
Topics: food bank donations, food insecurity rates, volunteer opportunities, poverty advocacy, charitable contributions
GUEST: Erin Filey-Wronecki |<a href="http://foodbankscanada.ca"> http://foodbankscanada.ca</a>
Originally aired on&nbsp;2026-02-02

Shane Hewitt & The Nightshift is your late-night companion for real talk, bold ideas, and unfiltered conversations that matter. Hosted by Canadian radio veteran Shane Hewitt, each episode dives into the headlines, human stories, and hidden truths shaping our world—always with curiosity, compassion, and a sharp edge.

From politics and pop culture to mental health, technology, and everyday life, this podcast is where night owls, deep thinkers, and curious minds come to connect. Featuring expert guests, passionate callers, and Shane’s signature style—thoughtful, fearless, and refreshingly real.

If you crave meaningful dialogue, smart perspectives, and late-night radio energy in podcast form, subscribe now and join The Nightshift.

Shane Hewitt &amp; The Nightshift is your late-night companion for real talk, bold ideas, and unfiltered conversations that matter. Hosted by Canadian radio veteran Shane Hewitt, each episode dives into the headlines, human stories, and hidden truths shaping our world&mdash;always with curiosity, compassion, and a sharp edge.
From politics and pop culture to mental health, technology, and everyday life, this podcast is where night owls, deep thinkers, and curious minds come to connect. Featuring expert guests, passionate callers, and Shane&rsquo;s signature style&mdash;thoughtful, fearless, and refreshingly real.
If you crave meaningful dialogue, smart perspectives, and late-night radio energy in podcast form, subscribe now and join The Nightshift.

Shane Hewitt and The Nightshift

Shane Hewitt is known for his engaging and relatable on-air personality, which captivates listeners. His ability to blend insightful commentary with humour and empathy creates a genuine connection with listeners.  Shane Hewitt and the Night Shift provides relatable content, informative discussions and expert insights – along with a balance of anecdotes and entertainment.

Shane Hewitt is known for his engaging and relatable on-air personality, which captivates listeners. His ability to blend insightful commentary with humour and empathy creates a genuine connection with listeners.  Shane Hewitt and the Night Shift provides relatable content, informative discussions and expert insights – along with a balance of anecdotes and entertainment.