Hunger is a persistent problem in our country, despite our wealth as a nation. Food Banks Canada’s HungerCount 2009 shows that nearly 800,000 individuals turn to food banks each month — a substantial increase from the previous year — and more than one-third of those helped are children. Research tells us that even more people are in need of assistance, with 2.7 million Canadians experiencing food insecurity over the course of a year.* Hunger is a complex issue. It demands immediate strategies and action at local, provincial, and national levels in order to provide support to those requiring food assistance. It also calls for collaboration, advocacy, and public education in order to achieve real, long-term solutions. Food Banks Canada is committed to both immediate and long-term initiatives that help those who are hungry in Canada. We do this by supporting our membership – the provincial associations and food banks assisting Canadians – by providing food, funds, and programs that help them with their important work. Through research, public awareness initiatives, and advocacy, and by engaging with other hunger and poverty reduction organizations, we are able to propose policy alternatives that will lead to fewer Canadians relying on food banks. Addressing this issue requires significant resolve. Food Banks Canada is determined to find solutions that will reduce hunger and support our membership with their efforts to assist Canadians in need. * Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey, 2004.