Food Banks Canada Launches Program to Assist Families in Need

Food Banks Canada providing resources to support families in need across Canada

TORONTO, Sept. 22 /CNW/ - Food Banks Canada announces the launch of Feeding Families, a new program developed to directly provide resources to food banks in their efforts to assist families with school aged children. Food banks provide support to hundreds of thousands of Canadians in need each month, and families are a large portion of clients assisted. Food Banks Canada's 2009 HungerCount reported that 50 per cent of households that turn to a food bank for help are families with children. 

The Feeding Families program was established to share with member food banks educational resources and funds that will have a direct impact on families. In its inaugural year, several new initiatives will be launched and made available to food banks including a $25,000 fund for food banks to access for family focused programs.

"We know that thousands of families are struggling in communities across the country and they find themselves turning to food banks for assistance" says Katharine Schmidt, Executive Director, Food Banks Canada. "We are pleased to be able to provide new support for our member food banks that will assist in their work to reduce hunger." 

McCain Foods (Canada), a leading global food manufacturer headquartered in Canada, is the founding sponsor of this program. McCain's sponsorship has enabled Food Banks Canada to immediately initiate several new programs to support food banks.  As part of the launch of Feeding Families, an educational factsheet, titled 'Doing More With Less' that provides relevant information on how to eat healthily on a limited budget, will be distributed to over 50,000 food bank clients nationwide. 

"McCain Foods is proud to be a founding sponsor of Feeding Families and to be part of a program that can have a direct impact on low-income Canadian families" says Darryl Rowe, President, McCain Foods (Canada). "Reducing hunger and the need for food banks requires creative solutions, and our goal is to be a significant partner with Food Banks Canada in its work to assist families."

Close to 800,000 Canadians turn to a food bank in an average month and 37 per cent are children. Food Banks Canada works to provide support and leadership with the goal of reducing hunger across Canada. For more information visit: www.feedingfamilies.ca

About Food Banks Canada

Food Banks Canada is the national charitable organization representing the food bank community across Canada. Our Members, Affiliate Member food banks, and their respective agencies serve approximately 85% of people accessing emergency food programs nationwide. Our mission is to meet the short-term need for food and find long-term solutions to reduce hunger. Please visit www.foodbankscanada.ca for more information.

For further information:

Media contact:
Marzena Gersho, Food Banks Canada,
647-242-5919 (mobile) or
[phone], ext. 28 (office)