This week, most Canadians will come together to celebrate Thanksgiving – a time to reflect on what we have to be grateful for, and perhaps more importantly, to share a meal with the people we care about. But for too many Canadians, putting a meal on the table is a challenge, making gathering around one that much harder.

According to Harvest Manitoba, the face of food insecurity in Manitoba is changing. Food bank users increasingly represent a broad cross-section of our communities. Forty-five percent of client households have children under 18, 31% of clients are currently employed, and 61% have completed some form of post-secondary education. Average household size has grown to 2.9 people, illustrating that larger families are increasingly struggling to make ends meet. These findings reinforce that food insecurity is not confined to any single demographic group. It affects working Manitobans, families with children, seniors, newcomers, people living with disabilities, and individuals pursuing education and employment opportunities.

Manitoba’s pork producers recognize that uncertainty and are proud to support local organizations that make a meaningful difference in helping those experiencing food insecurity. By supporting local food banks like Harvest Manitoba, Main Street Project, and Agape Table, thousands of pounds of pork products are reaching hungry children, struggling adults and seniors, and working Manitobans facing financial hardship. While pork produced right here in Manitoba remains one of the most cost-effective protein options at the grocery store, we know that food security and affordability are issues that remain top of mind for us all.

That commitment to sustainable food security is what led Manitoba Pork to partner with Harvest Manitoba. As the province’s largest food bank, Harvest supports communities across Manitoba, providing essential food assistance to more than 60,000 Manitobans each month. For most of those individuals and families, access to high-quality protein sources is essential.

“It takes a province to feed a province,” said Vince Barletta, CEO of Harvest Manitoba. “While we would love to say that the demand for food banks is going down, we know that we need access to locally grown, high-quality protein like pork to support all those communities that rely on our services.”

Since 2023, Manitoba Pork has partnered with Harvest to provide freezers to food banks across the province and keep them stocked with one-pound packages of ground pork. That has led to nearly 30,000 pounds of ground pork being donated across Manitoba, reaching almost 25 communities, including Bird Tail Sioux First Nation, Ashern, Lac du Bonnet, Morden, Carman, and various food banks within the City of Winnipeg.

“Giving communities access not only to physical infrastructure to store protein but also donating protein on a regular basis is a game changer for communities across our province,” Barletta added. “Manitoba Pork is a great partner for the work we do at Harvest, and we thank them for all they have done to support our clients.”

Manitoba Pork is proud to invest in the communities that are home to many of the people who work in and contribute to Manitoba’s hog sector.

To learn more about Manitoba Pork’s commitment to local communities, visit manitobapork.com/economy