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Six Major GTA Food Banks Join Forces for Spring Food Drive

By Jenna Cura
March 22, 2019
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Campaign aims to raise 1 million dollars and 1 million pounds of food by April 30.

On Tuesday, March 19, 2019, The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, joined the six major GTA Food Banks to kick off their collaborative 2019 Spring Food Drive.

In this unprecedented collaboration, the food banks also hope to raise awareness about food insecurity and the increasing number of people in the GTA who are struggling to afford nutritious food.

Approximately 5.6 million people (15% of Canada’s population) live in the areas served by these six regional food banks. And nearly 1 million people (17%) in these areas live in poverty.

“We know that food insecurity is a regional problem,” said Ryan Noble, Executive Director of the North York Harvest Food Bank. “More and more, the problem is migrating out of the downtown core and into the inner suburbs of Toronto and beyond, into the GTA. All the Food Banks in the GTA are working together to address this issue and this drive is a perfect example of our collaboration.”

The Spring Food Drive is a crucial campaign for food banks – who are not government funded. It raises the food and funds needed to provide nutritious meals to those who need it through the summer, traditionally slow period for food bank donations.

“We’re counting on community members across the GTA to help feed our neighbours by donating food and funds to the Spring Drive”, said Meghan Nicholls, Executive Director of The Mississauga Food Bank. “These donations will help purchase and distribute healthy food to the neighbours in our cities who need it most this Spring”.

The campaign will run from March 19 to April 30. To learn more about how to get involved click here.

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