Recent reports from the Ottawa Food Bank reveal that more than one in four households in Ottawa experience some level of food insecurity. Food bank visits have more than doubled compared to pre-pandemic levels, with nearly 589,000 visits reported through Ottawa's food assistance network in a single year.

These figures represent a dramatic shift in the economic reality facing residents throughout Ottawa, Kanata, Orleans, Barrhaven, Nepean, Gloucester, Stittsville, and surrounding rural communities.

The growing demand has become so severe that food assistance programs have been forced to reduce the amount of food distributed due to increasing costs and limited resources. Community food banks are now facing their own supply challenges while trying to serve a rapidly expanding client base.

Since 2019, foodbank usage has more than tripled in Lanark County. 

According to Lanark County Food Bank manager Tammy Parent, in 2019 it cost the food bank $5,000 a month to feed 500 individuals and now it costs $40,000 a month to feed 1800 individuals. 38% of those individuals are children. The foodbank operates solely on community donations and support, and with increased costs of living affecting Lanark County, it is more important than ever to give back and support individuals in our community who are struggling to thrive. 

Andrew Jahn Combines Music and Community Service

Local musician Andrew Jahn is on a mission to raise $10,000 for Lanark County Food Bank-The Hungerstop, to date Jahn’s initiative has raised $5571 through a series of benefit concerts. 

Through his "Something for Everyone" concert series, Andrew has brought together audiences and fellow performers while raising funds and awareness for local food insecurity. His fundraising efforts have included live performances, community partnerships, and an ongoing donation campaign in support of The Hunger Stop.

A passionate advocate for community engagement, Jahn believes music can be a powerful tool for bringing people together and helping those in need. His concerts feature a wide range of musical styles, creating an inclusive experience that truly offers "something for everyone."

To date, Jahn’s fundraising initiative has contributed thousands of dollars toward supporting local families who rely on food bank services. In addition to performing, he continues to promote awareness of food insecurity and encourage community members to get involved through engaging social media posts.

Andrew Jahn will be busking in Carleton Place outside the Carleton Place Tourism Centre on Bridgestreet on the second and fourth Saturday of every month to continue raising funds with a culminating concert on Saturday August 29th 3-5pm at the Almonte United Church. 

Jahn will also be expanding his advocacy with concerts to support Shepherd’s of Good Hope in Ottawa in 2026/2027 with dates to be announced soon. 

Learn More & Support the Cause

Benefit Concert Fundraiser:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/benefit-concert-for-the-lanark-county-food-bankhunger-stop

What the community is saying: 

https://arnpriortoday.ca/2026/05/24/whats-good-in-the-valley-concert-series-births-busking-for-everyone-event/

https://millstonenews.com/local-artist-andrew-jahn-supports-food-bank/
https://lindaseccaspina.wordpress.com/2026/05/31/goodness-beauty-and-love-is-found-here-andrew-jahn/

Stream Andrew Jahn’s Music: 

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQwzzqJf3fQihu2iQazN1pjSxqiRzzOTw&si=4LTLpKBHRxpkTvUv

We are going through an unprecedented time in human history.

We just survived a pandemic... and now here we are entering into war.

I wrote this song, "Love Sees Through" to offer listeners a compassionate hug in these dark days.  

This song is a prayer.  May the Immaculate heart of Mary, and the Sacred Heart of Jesus protect us all during these dark days. The Blessed Virgin Mary promised us that her immaculate heart would reign.

My prayers, love, and support are with the people of Ukraine right now. Reach out to me on my web if you are in danger, or need someone to listen to you. 

Our Lady of Fatima, Pray for us!

With love

Andrew

Love Sees Through

What do you do when you have chronic health issues that won't go away? Ya'll choose hope... that's what you do!

I wrote my song "Choose Hope" in November 2020. Choose Hope is specifically about mental illness, trauma, and panic attacks. but... I also kind of made it about COVID because COVID is causing some serious mental health issues for the majority of people. Here's hoping we still resume normalcy soon. But until then... Hope is a choice and we can choose it everyday! Hope transcends every circumstance. 

I was just dealing with a new diagnosis of complex-PTSD and coming to terms with my new life and the cost of EMDR treatments etc. I wrote Choose Hope during a panic attack one night when I was thinking "I just can't handle anymore panic attacks." I wrote it for myself. and here is it as a nicely wrapped gift for you. I don't know about you, but it was hard to access resources during COVID for mental health. 

If you are dealing with an impossible situation, I just want you to know that there is ALWAYS HOPE.

Choose Hope

I have an interesting thought/dream to share.  

I was in wal-mart today, and I noticed something about the people there: 

They were all beautiful.  
 

Every Single one of them was beautiful in a different way. 

There were short ones, tall ones, muscular ones, skinny ones, fat ones, pretty ones, and everything in between ones.  

Funny ones, grumpy ones, nice ones, mean ones’, and some that were none at all… 

Good ones and bad ones.. And ones as big as your head…  You get the idea!

But the one thing everyone had in common? They were all beautiful. 

I couldn’t help but notice that most of the people did not walk around with this knowledge evident in their mannerisms. 

Why? 

My best guess is because we put standards on what is beautiful. 

We have a very specific height, body type, hair colour, skin colour etc etc. 

And while this may have some objectiveness in the sense that we get more aroused by certain types of beauty…Everyone is equally beautiful. Everyone is a different type of good. 

The differences between all of us is what makes humans so interesting. 

I wish everyone would wake up and know that they possess some inherent goodness and beauty. 

I’m thinking about this a lot because as part of my goodness, beauty and love brand; I want to showcase the beauty of everyday ordinary people. I don’t want music videos full of photoshopped greek gods and goddesses doing gymnastics routines. I want everyday ordinary people, doing everyday ordinary things.  

I’m sad that a good majority of people walk around not knowing they possess a unique type of beauty that only applies to them.  

Remember you’re beautiful. And when you feel like you look different or outside of the norm, remind yourself that you’re just a different type of good.

https://staticdive.com/2021/01/26/andrew-jahn-the-journey-within/

Andrew Jahn Displays All Emotions on New Single and Video for LOVE

Honk Magazine

https://canadianbeats.ca/2021/01/13/five-questions-with-andrew-jahn/ 

https://www.turnmeloud.com/2020/11/andrew-jahn-in-night.html 

https://www.submithub.com/artist/andrew-jahn-2

https://groover.co/en/band/profile/1.andrew-jahn/

https://www.dopefuture.com/2020/11/andrew-jahn-in-night.html

https://skopemag.com/2021/01/06/skopemag-news-wednesday-january-6-2020-12-pm-est