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057 | The Food Bank Problem

Season #2

Food banks have become a symbol of generosity and resilience—neighbors helping neighbors in times of need. But what if that very system of charity is also propping up systemic failure?

In this episode of The Good Think, we examine the rise of food banks in Canada and the United States, from their grassroots beginnings to their entrenchment as a second-tier social safety net. We explore how institutions designed for emergency relief have evolved into permanent infrastructure, often filling gaps left by shrinking government programs.

Dr. Denaige McDonnell takes listeners on a deep dive into the economic forces, policy choices, and unintended consequences that define the modern food bank landscape. Along the way, we ask:

  • Who really benefits from food banks—citizens, corporations, or government?

  • Why are food insecurity rates rising despite the scale of charity?

  • And what might a future look like where food charity is no longer necessary?

What You’ll Learn

  • A history of food banks in North America: how they started and why they stayed

  • The role of government withdrawal and charity normalization in shaping public policy

  • The economics behind food banks—including the unpaid labor of volunteers, corporate tax benefits, and inefficiencies in donation models

  • How framing hunger as a charitable issue obscures its political and economic roots

  • What the data say about food insecurity, and why food bank success metrics can be misleading

  • The trade-offs between feeding people today and changing the systems that cause hunger tomorrow

  • Practical ideas for rethinking food assistance through income supports, policy, and justice

Key Stats & Takeaways

  • Over 2.2 million visits to Canadian food banks are recorded each month—a historic high.

  • Estimated value of unpaid volunteer labor: $100–200 million annually in Canada.

  • Individual Canadians donate another $11–17 million in food and money—using after-tax dollars.

  • Corporations receive tax benefits, avoid disposal fees, and generate brand value through food bank donations.

  • Despite four decades of charitable expansion, food insecurity in Canada has nearly doubled since 2005.

Resources & References

  • Food Banks Canada – HungerCount 2025

  • Daily Bread Food Bank – Who’s Hungry 2025

  • PROOF (U of T) – Food Insecurity Data

  • Feeding America – Food Rescue Statistics

  • ActiveHistory.ca – Historical Context on Food Banks

  • Andrew Fisher, Big Hunger: The Unholy Alliance Between Corporate America and Anti-Hunger Groups

  • PutFoodBanksOutOfBusiness.com – Poverty Costs Estimates

  • Canada Revenue Agency & U.S. IRS – Charitable Tax Deduction Policies

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