CANADA — More than one-third of Canadian food-support organizations responding to a new survey said they had turned people away because they lacked enough food or resources.

The Ipsos survey, conducted for Second Harvest, found 35 per cent had turned people away and 33 per cent had a waitlist. Nine in 10 respondents — 89 per cent — reported increased demand during the previous 12 months.

Survey covered more than traditional food banks

Ipsos collected responses from 1,610 of 2,468 organizations in Second Harvest’s partner network between May 26 and July 13, 2026, a 65 per cent response rate. Participants included food banks, shelters, faith-based groups, public institutions and food-recovery organizations.

The findings describe the organizations that answered the survey and should not be read as a statistically representative count of every food-support organization in Canada.

Waitlists averaged hundreds of people

Organizations with waitlists reported an average of 878 people waiting for help. Among those that had turned people away, 41 per cent estimated that they could not serve more than 50 people during the previous year; the average reported number turned away was 269.

Nearly half of respondents said they did not receive food or other support through federal, provincial or regional food-bank networks, underscoring the scale of food assistance delivered outside traditional systems.

Second Harvest chief executive Lori Nikkel said surplus food recovery can help organizations meet demand. The group commissioned the research and operates a food-rescue network, interests that readers should consider when interpreting its recommendations.

Sources: Ipsos survey summary and methodology, October 7; Second Harvest release, October 7; Global News, October 7.

Lead image: flag of Canada via Wikimedia Commons; not a photograph of a food bank, shelter or survey participant.