$175,000 in
funding will support four organizations selected by Food Banks
Canada
BRAMPTON, ON, Aug. 23,
2023 /CNW/ - Loblaw Companies Limited (TSX: L) is
bolstering its partnership with Food Banks Canada by donating
$175,000 in Emergency Food Access
Grants to four Indigenous organizations. These organizations, which
were selected by Food Banks Canada, will use the grants to support
vulnerable families and individuals, while prioritizing access to
emergency food supplies.
"Loblaw is making a meaningful difference in addressing food
security, with a commitment to provide 1 billion pounds of food to
those in need by 2028," said Alain
Brandon, VP, Sustainability, Social Impact and Government
Relations. "We want to help Canadians Live Life Well®,
which is why we're proud to take this next step in our partnership
with Food Banks Canada. These grants will help four indigenous
organizations continue the tremendous work they are doing for their
communities."
The four organizations selected by Food Banks Canada to receive
an Emergency Food Access Grant funded by Loblaw include:
- Northern Peninsula (Mekap'sk) Mi'kmaq Band in Port Saunders, NL serves the entirety of
the Northern Peninsula, which is about 600 KM of territory. The
organization received $40,000 to
build food hampers for vulnerable families and individuals needing
food, including those with specialty diet requirements. They will
also restock their Community Kitchens with basic food items so
anyone in need of groceries can receive what they need.
- Behdzi Ahda First Nation in Colville Lake, NT is one of the most
remote communities in Northern
Canada and most food is brought in by air, at a tremendous
cost to residents. The organization received $55,214 ($5,214 was
provided directly by Food Banks Canada) to take a truck to Grand
Prairie and Edmonton to stock up
on fresh meat and vegetables, which are a food safety risk to ship
via air carrier, so that they are able to control the environmental
factors and ensure safe delivery back to Colville Lake.
- Cold Lake Food Bank Society in Cold Lake, AB serves the City of Cold Lake and a large surrounding
area, including six Indigenous communities. The Food Bank Society
received $20,000 to purchase meat,
potatoes, milk, eggs and produce, as well as other perishable basic
items to help provide their clients with well balanced meals.
- Municipality of Cambridge
Bay in Cambridge Bay,
NU is located on Victoria
Island in the High Arctic and has a population of
approximately 2,000 people. As the vast Inuit population in
Nunavut struggles with poverty and
food insecurity, the Municipality of Cambridge Bay's Department of Healthy Living
offers an Emergency Food Bank program which received $65,000 in funding through the Emergency Food
Access Grant. The funds will be used to increase capacity of its
existing food bank program and support its community members in
need.
"Thanks to partners like Loblaw, we are able to provide supports
such as the Emergency Food Access Grant to vulnerable communities,"
said Philippe Ozga, Chief Network
and Government Relations Officer, Food Banks Canada. "As we face a
mounting hunger and cost-of-living crisis, this grant provided
increased access to emergency food for those who need it the
most. With the additional support we continue to receive from
our long-standing partners like Loblaw, we can continue to work
towards our vision of a Canada
where no on goes hungry."
Loblaw provides more than $60
million in annual fundraising and financial support for food
charities and reclamation agencies like Food Banks Canada, Second
Harvest and Les Banques alimentaires du Québec. Its commitment to
provide 1 billion pounds of food to those in need by 2028 includes
regular awareness and fundraising campaigns for food banks and food
recovery agencies. Loblaw also recently announced a major milestone
in its food waste reduction efforts successfully pairing 100 per
cent of eligible Loblaw banner stores and distribution centres,
which includes more than 1,700 stores, directly with a local food
bank or food recovery agency. In 2022, participating stores
and distribution centres donated nearly 15 million pounds of safe
and nutritious food.
About Loblaw Companies
Limited
Loblaw is Canada's food and
pharmacy leader, and the nation's largest retailer. Loblaw provides
Canadians with grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel,
general merchandise, financial services and wireless mobile
products and services. With more than 2,400 corporate, franchised
and Associate-owned locations, Loblaw, its franchisees and
Associate-owners employ approximately 221,000 full- and part-time
employees, making it one of Canada's largest private sector employers.
Loblaw's purpose – Live Life Well® – puts first the
needs and well-being of Canadians who make one billion transactions
annually in the company's stores. Loblaw is positioned to meet and
exceed those needs in many ways: convenient locations; more than
1,050 grocery stores that span the value spectrum from discount to
specialty; full-service pharmacies at nearly 1,350 Shoppers Drug
Mart® and Pharmaprix® locations and
close to 500 Loblaw locations; PC
Financial® services; affordable Joe Fresh® fashion and family
apparel; and four of Canada's
top-consumer brands in Life Brand®, Farmer's
MarketTM, no name® and President's
Choice®.
About Food Banks Canada
Food Banks Canada provides national leadership to relieve hunger
today and prevent hunger tomorrow in collaboration with the food
bank network from coast-to-coast-to-coast. For 40 years, food banks
have been dedicated to helping Canadians living with food
insecurity. Over 4,750 food banks and community organizations come
together to serve our most vulnerable neighbours who in March of
last year made nearly 1.5 million visits to these organizations,
according to our 2022 HungerCount Report. Over the past 10 years,
as a system we've sourced and shared over 1.4 billion pounds of
food and Food Banks Canada shared nearly $168 million in funding to help maximize
collective impact and strengthen local capacity – while advocating
for reducing the need for food banks. Our vision is clear: create a
Canada where no one goes hungry.
Visit foodbankscanada.ca to learn more.
SOURCE Loblaw Companies Limited