Lower Mainland non-profit grocery says 40% of client families’ income earmarked for groceries
VANCOUVER — A Lower Mainland not-for-profit grocery outlet says data from customers shows that some families living on or below the poverty line are spending about 40 per cent of their total budget on food.
Quest Outreach Society, which runs about a half-dozen outlets that act as a bridge between food banks and grocery stores, suggests that a family of four in B.C. making $40,000 or less is feeling the brunt of rising food prices across Canada.
An early 2024 survey of about 1,200 of its 10,000-plus active clients and others connected with partner agencies shows that about 64 per cent of shoppers are families, and 74 per cent of their client base also use food banks.
About 85 per cent visit at least once a week.