One Million Servings of Ontario Pork for Families

TORONTO, Sept. 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Ontario Association of Food Banks (OAFB) is pleased to announce that Ontario Pork’s Friends of the Food Bank program has donated its one-millionth serving of fresh, Ontario pork to families in need. This milestone was made possible through the generosity of Ontario’s hog industry, countless farmers, and matching funds donated by Food Banks Canada and The French’s Food Company.

“We are incredibly grateful for the longstanding commitment of Ontario’s hog industry,” says Carolyn Stewart, Executive Director of the OAFB. “Through the generosity of Ontario Pork, industry, farmers, and processors, families in need are provided with greater access to fresh, healthy protein that might not otherwise be available. This makes a direct and positive impact in their overall health and wellbeing, and in the health and wellbeing of their communities.”

The Ontario hog industry has a long history of supporting the OAFB and the communities in which their farmers reside. In 1998, a pork producer named Paul Mistele founded the ‘Donate a Hog’ program as a means for farmers to support their community food banks. This successful program provided a strong foundation for the formation of the Friends of the Food Bank, Ontario Pork program. To date, program supporters have donated more than $150,000 through this initiative.

“Ontario’s pork farmers are committed to building strong, healthy communities,” says Eric Schwindt, Ontario Pork board chair. “Fresh pork is an important source of healthy protein and Ontario pork farmers are proud to work with the Friends of the Food Bank program to support our neighbours and fellow Ontarians when they need a hand up.”

This year provided a special opportunity for the Friends of the Food Bank, Ontario Pork program, as Food Banks Canada and The French’s Food Company provided $26,778 in matching funds exclusively for the purchase of fresh Ontario pork for families in need. With the support of this generous donation, the OAFB and Ontario Pork were able to distribute pork to all 128 direct member food banks this year, inclusive of the program’s one-millionth serving.

“A key pillar of the French’s Brand Promise is our support of the communities where we live and work - it is at the core of our business.  We are pleased that our partnership with Food Banks Canada is helping the Ontario Association of Food Banks provide fresh pork to families in need this fall,” says Brook Giliford-Nardo,  Country Manager,  The French’s Food Company.  

September marks Hunger Action Month in Ontario, making the support provided by the Friends of the Food Bank, Ontario Pork program, Food Banks Canada, and The French’s Food Company especially timely. The Ontario Association of Food Banks would like to thank these partners for their incredible support and the impact that they have made in the lives of the 335,000 adults and children that the Ontario food bank network serves every month.

“On behalf of the food bank network and the people we serve, thank you,” says Stewart. “We are grateful beyond words.”

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 .

For more information, please contact:

Amanda King, Director of Membership & Communications Ontario Association of Food Banks 416-656-4100 x2932, amanda@oafb.ca