TORONTO, Sept. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This month alone, over 335,000 adults and children will visit a food bank in Ontario. In a country like Canada this may seem hard to believe, and yet hunger can be found in nearly every classroom, community, and corner of the province. It is for this reason that, throughout September, the Ontario Association of Food Banks is encouraging Ontarians to participate in this year’s Hunger Action Month.
“Hunger is a solvable issue,” says Carolyn Stewart, Executive Director of the Ontario Association of Food Banks. “However, there are still hundreds of thousands of adults and children that go to work or school hungry, or go to bed without knowing when they might have their next meal.”
Food banks across the province will be supporting Hunger Action Month, as well as Food Banks Canada’s Hunger Awareness Week (Sept. 18th – 22nd, 2017), by inviting community residents and businesses to participate in local events and activities.
On September 22nd, food banks will also be participating in the second Great MPP Food Sort. During this event, MPPs will be simultaneously sorting food in different communities while engaging in important discussions about hunger and poverty and what can be done to address these issues.
“In our most recent Hunger Report, the OAFB made three recommendations to the provincial government on how it can address the root causes of hunger,” says Stewart. “These are: to continue its investment in the Basic Income Pilot, update social assistance rates to reflect the current cost of living, and to increase affordable housing through a portable housing benefit for low-income Ontarians.”
Throughout the month, partners of the Ontario Association of Food Banks will also be holding or participating in a number of events and programs to address hunger. Some of these events include:
- Cargill: Employees of Cargill will be volunteering at East Wellington Community Services in Erin, Ontario. Cargill is a longstanding partner of the OAFB and the sponsor of this year’s Hunger Action Month. To date, Cargill has provided the equivalent of over 135,000 meals.
- Chicken Farmers of Ontario: Throughout September, CFO will be providing a weekly donation of chicken to food banks in Ontario. Last year, Chicken Farmers of Ontario provided over 860,000 servings of chicken to families in need.
- Egg Farmers of Ontario: Employees will be volunteering at the Kerr Street Mission in Oakville, Ontario during Hunger Awareness Week. The Egg Farmers of Ontario provide over 144,000 dozen eggs to food banks annually.
- Flat Rock Cellars: Proceeds from their Good Kharma Chardonnay will be directed to the OAFB. To date, Flat Rock Cellars has provided the equivalent of 60,000 meals to Ontarians in need.
- Gay Lea Foods and the Gay Lea Foundation: Invested $20,000 into the OAFB’s Capacity Building Grant, helping to ensure that food banks have the means to accept and store fresh food and access to energy efficient equipment.
- Sobeys Inc.’s Real Estate and Engineering department: Holding their annual golf tournament, with proceeds being directed to the Ontario Association of Food Banks. To date, the golf tournament’s proceeds have helped provide over 100,000 meals.
“We would not be able to do what we do without the incredible support of our partners,” says Stewart. “Thank you for your ongoing support and the important work that you are doing throughout Hunger Action Month to raise awareness, healthy food, and funding for hunger-relief programs in Ontario. We are grateful beyond words.”
To learn more about Hunger Action Month and how you can participate, please visit: https://oafb.ca/hunger-action-month
About Hunger Action Month
This September, the Ontario Association of Food Banks invites all Ontarians to participate in its 2nd Annual Hunger Action Month. Through both provincial and community based initiatives, food banks across the province are encouraging supporters to create change through four key actions: educate, advocate, volunteer, and donate.
Some of the food banks that will be holding Hunger Action Month events and activities include:
Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank, Daily Bread Food Bank (Toronto, ON), East Wellington Community Services (Erin, ON), Guelph Food Bank, Hagersville Food Bank, Helping Hand Food Bank (Tillsonburg, ON), Kawartha Lakes Food Source (Lindsay, ON), Northumberland County Food4All (Cobourg, ON), North York Harvest Food Bank, Orangeville Food Bank, Renfrew & District Food Bank, Salvation Army Dunnville Community & Family Services, Southern Frontenac Community Services (Sydenham, ON), The Hunger Stop – Lanark County Food Bank (Carleton Place, ON), The Salvation Army Fort Erie, The Salvation Army Listowel, The Salvation Army St. Marys Food Bank, The Salvation Army Woodstock Food Bank, The Table Community Food Centre (Perth, ON), Walkerton & District Food Bank, 7 Hills Community Food Bank (Warkworth, ON).
To find your local food bank, please visit: https://oafb.ca/need-help/find-a-food-bank/
About the Ontario Association of Food Banks
The Ontario Association of Food Banks is the province’s leading provider of emergency food support to front-line hunger-relief agencies and the leader in province-wide hunger research. Our mission is to strengthen communities by providing food banks with food, resources, and solutions that address both short and long-term food insecurity. Please visit www.oafb.ca.