Press conference on June 11 unveiled nationwide initiative expected to support more than 41,000 households experiencing food insecurity
OTTAWA, ON – June 11, 2026 – Human Concern International (HCI), today announced the launch of its National Food Distribution Initiative during a press conference held at the Ottawa Food Bank.
The initiative will deliver more than 824,000 pounds of food aid, valued at approximately $2 million CAD, to communities across Canada and is expected to support more than 41,000 households experiencing food insecurity.
As part of the initiative, an initial shipment of 55,000 pounds of food aid will be distributed through the Ottawa Food Bank’s network of more than 90 community food programs and 67 member agencies, supporting families all over the Ottawa region.
The announcement was made by Mahmuda Khan, Global CEO of Human Concern International, alongside Natalie Spooner, CEO of Ottawa Food Bank, during a media event highlighting the growing need for food assistance across the country and the importance of collaborative community responses.
“Across Canada, too many families are being forced to make impossible choices between paying rent and putting food on the table,” said Mahmuda Khan, Global CEO of Human Concern International. “This initiative reflects our commitment to helping communities respond to rising food insecurity while ensuring vulnerable households have access to nutritious food.”
Poverty continues to affect millions of Canadians, with an estimated 10% to 25% of the population struggling to meet basic needs. Faced with rising living costs, many individuals and families are forced to make impossible choices: skipping meals, sacrificing nutritious food, or going hungry altogether in order to afford essentials such as rent, transportation, and utilities.
The strain on Canada’s social support systems has reached unprecedented levels. In March 2025 alone, food banks across the country recorded nearly 2.2 million visits, the highest number ever reported. This marks a 5.2% increase over 2024 levels and represents a staggering doubling of food bank usage since March 2019, underscoring the deepening affordability crisis and growing food insecurity affecting communities nationwide.
“At a time when food insecurity is affecting one in four households in Ottawa and food bank visits continue to rise, this donation will have a meaningful impact on the people we serve,” said Natalie Spooner, CEO of Ottawa Food Bank. “Through our network of community food programs, this support will help us reach thousands of families across the city and ensure food gets to where it is needed most.”
The food aid includes staple items such as rice, kidney beans, green lentils, red lentils, chickpeas, and green peas. Through its partnership with GlobalMedic and food bank networks across the country, HCI will facilitate the distribution of food to communities most affected by rising living costs and economic hardship.
Human Concern International (HCI) is Canada’s first and oldest Muslim charity. Entrenched in all our work is our vision for a world without poverty and injustice. Since its inception, HCI has provided humanitarian aid and development support to tens of millions of individuals and families around the world as per our mission to save lives and move people from crises to sustainability through emergency response, education, healthcare, livelihoods, water and sanitation, and child sponsorship programs. For HCI, charity starts at home, and we uplift our community in both times of need and celebration.
The Ottawa Food Bank is the main emergency food provider in the National Capital Region and has been serving the community since 1984. The Ottawa Food Bank works in partnership with a network of over 90 community food programs that include community food banks, food cupboards, meal programs, multi-service programs, kids’ summer nutrition programs, and after-school snack programs. The Ottawa Food Bank network receives more than 588,866 visits for food support annually. Sadly, 37% of Ottawa Food Bank clients are children. With a focus on fresh, and thanks to the community’s support, nearly 7.9 million pounds of food is distributed from the 2001 Bantree Street warehouse each