Nearly one quarter of British Columbians—22 percent—have skipped a meal because they couldn’t afford to buy food, according to a new survey.

Based on an online Leger survey of more than 1,500 Canadians, the Catelli Giving Feels Good survey also found that 24 percent of people in B.C. have turned to a food bank at least once in their life.

According to Cynthia Boulter, chief development officer at the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society, more kids and seniors are turning to the organization to feed themselves and their families. The number of food-bank users is also going up among other groups.

“We’ve seen some troubling trends over the last 12 months,” Boulter tells the Straight. “[The number of] working people seeking food bank support has increased at more than triple the rate of members on social assistance, disability, and pensions.

“More and more families are turning to us for help,” she adds. “Having to choose between paying rent or paying the bills and providing food for your family isn’t a choice anyone should have to make. While the food bank is here to provide immediate relief, we recognize we are not a long-term solution.”

Perhaps not surprisingly, the survey found that there’s stigma associated with food insecurity.

Seventy-eight percent of people in B.C. said they would get involved if someone they knew couldn’t afford to feed themselves or their kids but 31 percent said that if they needed help, they don’t feel they could turn to their family or friends.

The Greater Vancouver Food Bank serves Vancouver, North and West Vancouver, Burnaby, and New Westminster and is always in need of donations of funds or food. Spring and summer can be challenging times of year for the organization and people who rely on it, since donating tends to be more top of mind for many during the winter holiday season.

Organized food drives—including virtual food drives—are two options to support the organization. Non-perishable items can also be dropped off at any Safeway Save-On Foods, Superstore, or Greater Vancouver firehall.

The Greater Vancouver Food Bank’s most wanted items are: canned black beans, chickpeas, and kidney beans; canned fish; canned chicken or turkey; whole-wheat pasta; and brown rice.

For health reasons, it cannot accept homemade or expired food, products containing alcohol, and any open packages of food.

Until May 31, Catelli is donating a portion of pasta to food banks across Canada for every box of its pasta purchased. (A portion consists of 85 grams of dry pasta.)