It doesn't take long at the checkout line to notice the grocery bills are not what they used to be. A can of beans not long ago cost under a dollar, now ring in at more than $2.50. A case of soup that used to cost under $7.00 now approaches $20. In other cases, the price tag may look similar, but the package holds a little less than it once did, something commonly referred to as shrinkflation.

    Across Canada, grocery prices rose sharply in 2022 and 2023. Statistics Canada reported that food purchased from stores increased by more than 10 percent year over year, the highest jump seen in decades. While the pace of inflation has slowed, prices have not returned to earlier levels. For many households, that means food takes up a larger portion of the monthly budget than it once did.

    Those shifts are also reflected locally. When the Virden & Area Food Cupboard began in 2011 five families received hampers. Today, between 35 and 40 hampers are distributed twice each month. Organizers say demand has increased overtime. The broader conversation, however, extends beyond one program. Higher grocery bills, increased fuel costs and rising housing expenses have become common topics around kitchen tables.