By Adam Frisk Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
As Haliburton County residents continue to face food insecurity, the Haliburton 4Cs Food Bank and Lily Ann are feeling the crisis firsthand.
Food bank usage in the County is up a staggering 27 per cent, according to the nonprofit. Food costs alone for May 2026 hit nearly $40,000, and with demand outpacing donations in the summer months, the charity launched a “Christmas in July” fundraiser to help meet its needs.
Louise Ewing, chair of the 4Cs board, explained to The Highlander that with the current economic reality, the food bank is seeing an average of four-to-five new families registering every month. While she acknowledged that demographics play a role, Ewing noted that Haliburton is the secondpoorest County in the province, behind Manitoulin Island, with employed residents being pushed to the food bank.
“We have families that have two working people and still can’t afford to buy their food,” she said. “You might have two or three jobs at minimum wage or cash in your pocket that just don’t provide enough to pay your bills, keep a roof over your head, and feed your family well.”
While families are seeking assistance, Ewing said people who are single make up the largest demographic using the food bank. To break down the numbers further, she said the County’s youth, those who are 12 to 18 years old, receive the least number of donated items, especially around the holidays.
To put that into perspective, the chair of the board explained how a high school teacher reached out to the 4Cs about teenagers who were skipping meals so their younger siblings at home could eat. So the charity had spent the last few months delivering food directly to the high school.
To help fill this gap, the 4Cs is asking for specific donations tailored to teens: pajamas, socks, personal hygiene products, and $10 or $20 gift cards to local restaurants or grocery stores.
The 4Cs relies heavily on its Lily Ann Thrift Store to fund its operations. Ewing said that while the community is remarkably generous during the winter months, it’s the summertime when cash donations typically dry up.
“We’ve never had to fundraise before in all the years,” Ewing said. “In the 40 or more years that the 4Cs have been operating, we’ve never thought, ‘well, maybe we should fundraise and see if we can just help a bit.’”
So far, the response to the summer campaign has been “underwhelming,” Ewing said, adding she hopes the community will rally in the final week of July to help them prepare for a difficult winter ahead.
“We can’t be ostriches and hide our heads,” She said. “It exists… people in our own County are hungry.”
You can support the 4Cs by donating cash, gift cards, or unwrapped toys at CanoeFM or the Lily Ann Thrift Store. E-transfers can be sent to 4csfoodbank@gmail.com, and nonperishable food can be donated at the two grocery stores in Haliburton.
