Mayor Crombie Launches 7th Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive to raise food and funds in support of The Mississauga Food Bank
Mayor Bonnie Crombie’s 2021 Thanksgiving Food Drive officially launched on Tuesday with the goal of raising $400,000 and 200,000 pounds of food with the help of the community, in support of The Mississauga Food Bank.
“For the 15 percent of Mississauga residents who live below the poverty line, food insecurity is a reality. Members of our community made over 160,000 food bank visits in the last year – that’s a 14 percent increase from the year prior,” says Mayor Crombie. “As we head into another Thanksgiving during a pandemic, we need to continue coming together and giving back to make sure everyone has access to healthy and nutritious food. So over the next month, join me in supporting The Mississauga Food Bank by donating funds or food, and let’s make Mississauga a city where no one goes hungry.”
As highlighted in the recent The Face of Hunger in Mississauga report, the average monthly income of a food bank client is just over $1,300. With the average monthly cost of a one-bedroom rental unit in Mississauga averaging over $1,700, food bank clients simply do not earn enough to pay for rent, food, and other necessary monthly expenses.
With your support, The Mississauga Food Bank will continue to feed hungry neighbours, while advocating for long-term structural solutions and systemic change that will address protection for low-income renters, a minimum income floor, affordable early learning and childcare, and food justice and racial equity. For more information on The Face of Hunger in Mississauga, please visit www.themississaugafoodbank.org/learn/the-face-of-hunger/.
“In the past year, The Mississauga Food Bank has distributed food for over 4.6 million meals, a 58 percent increase from last year,” says Meghan Nicholls, CEO. “Over 25,800 hungry neighbours visited a food bank – over 6,800 for the first time. Your support and generosity continue to set the table and will feed hungry children, seniors, families, and neighbours this Thanksgiving.”
Since 2015, Mayor Crombie’s annual food drive has raised over $1.9 million and more than 1.5 million pounds of food. With the community’s support this year, we can ensure there are adequate resources to feed our neighbours in need this Thanksgiving and beyond.
Mayor Crombie’s 2021 Thanksgiving Food Drive is proudly sponsored by Keurig Dr. Pepper Canada.
“We couldn’t be more pleased to partner with The Mississauga Food Bank and Mayor Crombie’s office to provide food to those in need,” says Olivier Lemire, president of Keurig Dr Pepper Canada. “Following the unprecedented challenges of the past 18 months, we recognize that the communities in which we operate need extra help. Together with our partners, we are hoping to drive positive impact through this support.”
Mayor Crombie’s 2021 Thanksgiving Food Drive runs until October 17, 2021. For more information on how you can get involved, visit www.themississaugafoodbank.org/thanksgiving.
Thank you to our friends at Rabba for being our community sponsor.
