(Screenshot: 2015 Face of Hunger report)

An estimated 13,000 people visit the Mississauga Food Bank monthly, and more than 112,000 residents live below the poverty line, according to a report released Monday.

With the holidays approaching, “Thanksgiving is a critical time for Mississauga to rally together to raise food and funds to feed our hungry neighbours,” said MFB executive director Chris Hatch.

The 2015 Face of Hunger report also found the average age of a food bank user is 46-years-old, and 52% of users are female.

Roughly 18% of all users are from the L4T postal code in Malton, or Ward 5.

The release of the figures coincided with Hunger Awareness Week and the launch of Mayor Bonnie Crombie’s city-wide food drive challenge at Celebration Square.

The initiative is a friendly competition among Mississauga’s 11 wards to see which community collects the most non-perishable goods at their local fire station.

Benefitting the MFB, there’s less than a month to hit the target of 80,000 pounds of food and $80,000.

Items most needed include canned fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, beans, rice, and peanut butter.

Anyone dropping food at a fire station or the MFB warehouse at 3121 Universal Dr. by Oct. 16 will receive a certificate for a free loaf from COBS Bread.

“There is no shortage of compassion in Mississauga,” said Crombie.

“We are a city that cares.”

DATES & STATS

• Food will be weighed between Sept. 21 and Oct. 16
• Winning ward will be declared on Oct. 17
• MFB provides food for 2.2 million meals annually 
  via neighbourhood food banks, before-school
  breakfast clubs, youth drop-in centres, hot meal
  programs and emergency shelters

Fire stations in Wards 1 & 2:

• 710 Third St.
• 62 Port St. W.
• 2035 Lushes Ave.
• Click here to find the rest of the fire halls by ward.

-Kelly Roche

@qewsouthpost