In this episode of Let’s Go Together, Julia is joined by Stéphane Sirois, Executive Director of Feed New Brunswick, to explore how food banks are changing—and why more working families and seniors now rely on them just to get by. From skyrocketing food and housing costs to the quiet role of pride and stigma—especially among older adults—Stéphane explains what he’s seeing on the front lines across New Brunswick. He breaks down the 120% surge in food bank visits, the shift from “emergency safety net” to “essential service,” and the growing strain on volunteers, infrastructure, and funding. You’ll also hear how local partnerships (including CAA Atlantic’s donation of a fully electric food delivery van), government support, and creative solutions like mobile food banks and local farm partnerships are helping communities respond—while still keeping the long‑term goal in sight: fewer people needing food banks at all. Whether you’ve used a food bank, donated to one, or are simply trying to understand food insecurity in your community, this episode offers a clear, grounded look at what’s happening and what we can all do to help. We cover food security and the future of food banks from the front lines to long‑term solutions: Who Uses Food Banks Now: Working families, seniors, newcomers and kids The Rising Cost of Living: Housing, wages, and why work no longer guarantees food Stigma & Pride: Why many people wait too long to ask for help Government Support & Data: Using real numbers to unlock funding Volunteers, Burnout & Staffing: Why “just volunteers” isn’t sustainable anymore Mobile Food Banks & Rural Access: Reaching communities without local services Local Food & Farmers: Buying close to home and reducing waste Corporate Partnerships: How CAA Atlantic’s electric van and payroll giving help Chapters: 00:00 – Welcome to Let’s Go Together & today’s focus on food security 00:16 – Introducing guest Stéphane Sirois and Feed New Brunswick 02:10 – From regional depot to provincial distribution network 02:55 – Why CAA Atlantic chose local food security as a priority cause 03:29 – What food insecurity looks like day to day in New Brunswick 03:57 – The new face of food bank users: working families and retirees 05:03 – Pride, stigma, and seniors who wait too long to seek help 06:45 – Four years of rising demand and post‑COVID cost pressures 07:30 – Food banks as a “temporary solution” that never went away 08:03 – How the housing crisis drives people to food banks 08:54 – 120% increase in visits and a budget jump from $350K to $6M 09:51 – Are governments listening? Turning data into support 10:12 – Using Link2Feed data to secure $9M in provincial funding 11:09 – Beyond food: infrastructure, burnout, and the volunteer crisis 12:53 – Why it’s hard to fund staff but easy to fund “stuff” 13:12 – Corporate volunteer days and the limits of charity alone 13:55 – Feed New Brunswick’s three‑level strategy to fight food insecurity 14:58 – Why “growth” is bad news in the food bank sector 15:07 – Children, newcomers, and the impact of low wages 15:56 – Minimum wage vs. living wage in New Brunswick 16:49 – When working or retired no longer guarantees enough to eat 16:54 – What people actually ask for: top food items in demand 17:22 – Cereal, peanut butter, and high‑cost proteins 18:22 – Donations, purchasing, and where dollars go the furthest 18:35 – Food recovery partnerships with major grocery retailers 19:44 – Sorting, spoilage, and how food banks fight food waste 20:15 – Overripe bananas, banana bread, and creative kitchen solutions 21:12 – Why bananas are both affordable and risky for food banks 21:57 – Do food bank visits still peak at the holidays? 22:48 – Steady demand, seasonal donations, and tough winter months 23:26 – Break: How CAA Atlantic supports safer, easier everyday journeys 24:32 – How one surprise phone call from CAA Atlantic changed everything 24:59 – Gifting a fully electric Ford Transit food delivery van 25:23 – Why an electric van fits CAA Atlantic’s mission and climate goals 26:12 – Winter tires, chargers, and co‑branding the new vehicle 26:45 – How the van is used every day and what it means on the ground 27:02 – The Feed NB 50/50 draw: “the gift that keeps the lights on” 28:09 – Life‑changing jackpots and sustainable operations funding 30:05 – How New Brunswickers can buy tickets and support Feed NB 30:46 – Donating cereal, buying tickets, and growing community support 31:20 – Food banks vs. food distribution centres: what’s the difference? 32:10 – How a provincial hub supports 69 member agencies 33:04 – Urban vs. rural food banks and who relies most on distribution 33:26 – Centralized purchasing, wholesale pricing, and advocacy power 33:58 – Looking ahead: mobile food banks and “food deserts” 34:43 – Combining boards and sharing services to cut overhead 35:49 – Collaborating across the Atlantic provinces 36:15 – Moncton as a strategic hub for Food Banks Canada 35:56 – Working with local farmers and buying in advance 36:38 – Purchase guarantees and direct‑to‑food‑bank deliveries 37:40 – “Dirty carrots,” fresh potatoes, and learning to cook from scratch 38:39 – What Stéphane wants listeners to take away: food is everyone’s responsibility 38:47 – How individuals, companies, and governments can each do their part 38:53 – Volunteering, food drives, and neighbours helping neighbours 39:05 – Former clients returning as volunteers and community builders 39:54 – Food banks as “informal social workers” and community hubs 41:04 – Rapid‑fire: the biggest misconception about food banks 41:43 – What Stéphane would change first: wages and social programs 42:39 – Building a more resilient, local food system in Atlantic Canada 42:46 – Rapid‑fire: dream cars, Toyotas, and realistic vs. “Ferrari” dreams 43:48 – Favourite CAA benefit and the peace of mind of membership 44:46 – Final thoughts: we want a world where food banks aren’t needed 45:20 – If you need help, go—there is no shame in asking CONNECT WITH FEED NEW BRUNSWICK & LOCAL FOOD SECURITY Feed New Brunswick 50/50 Draw & Programs: feednb.ca (weekly Gold Rush‑style draw supporting food purchases and operations) Learn more about food banks and food security in your area via provincial food bank networks (e.g., Feed Nova Scotia, PEI Food Banks, Food Banks Canada). CONNECT WITH CAA ATLANTIC: Website: https://atlantic.caa.ca/ Instagram: @caaatlantic Facebook: /caaatlantic LinkedIn: /caa-atlantic IDEA FOR A FUTURE EPISODE? We’d love to hear from you. Send us your ideas at info@atlantic.caa.ca
