Mayor Bonnie Crombie’s 2021 Thanksgiving Food Drive, which ran from September 14 to October 17, set out to raise $400,000 and 200,000 pounds of food.
Both the fundraising and food goals were exceeded, with the campaign raising $656,157 and 370,596 pounds of food, thanks to the support of community members and partners across the city.
“I want to give my sincerest thanks to Mississauga residents, businesses and organizations who donated to our Thanksgiving Food Drive this year,” says Mayor Crombie. “Since we launched our yearly food drive in 2015, you have helped us raise over $2.5 million and over 1.87 million pounds of food. That’s food and funds for more than 7 million meals. Your compassion and generosity means that The Mississauga Food Bank can continue to provide access to healthy and nutritious food for those facing food insecurity. I am incredibly proud of how Mississauga continues to come together, year after year, to help those in our city most in need.”
While the economy has started to recover from COVID-19, poverty continues to be widespread as our community works through the long term effects of the pandemic. 15 percent of residents in Mississauga live below the poverty line and in September alone, they made nearly 13,000 visits to a food bank.
“This past Thanksgiving was one of the first holidays where we could safely gather with family and friends since the pandemic began. But the reality for many of our food bank users is that it was another holiday where they didn’t know if they could put food on the table after covering other basic necessities such as rent, transportation, and childcare,” says Meghan Nicholls. “But thanks to our generous supporters who participated in the Thanksgiving Food Drive, we are able to continue feeding hungry neighbours across our city this fall and as we head into the colder months.”
While the Thanksgiving Food Drive has concluded, the need for food in Mississauga doesn’t stop. The funds and food raised will feed hungry neighbours, allow The Mississauga Food Bank to purchase bulk food at a quarter of the cost, expand operations to better serve the community, and support the 50+ agencies that distribute food to food bank users across Mississauga.
Click here to watch our thank you video, including a message from Mayor Crombie and CEO, Meghan Nicholls.
Mayor Crombie’s 2021 Thanksgiving Food Drive was proudly sponsored by Keurig Dr Pepper Canada.
Thank you to Rabba Fine Foods for being our community sponsor.
Pictured from left to right: Donny the Donation Bag, Meghan Nicholls, CEO of The Mississauga Food Bank, and Mayor Bonnie Crombie, in front The Mississauga Food Bank truck at the Thanksgiving Contactless Drive-Thru Food Drive.
