Mount Pleasant Group Makes Second $270,000 Donation to 36 Food Banks in Communities Across the GTA

TORONTO, March 1, 2022 /CNW/ - The Mount Pleasant Group, which owns and operates cemeteries, funeral centres and cremation centres in communities across the GTA, has for a second year in a row donated $270,000 to local food banks. Thirty-six food banks will receive $7,500 each to help them meet the need for their services in their local communities.

Susan Mitchell and Christopher Archer have been volunteering at the Weston Area Emergency Support Food Bank since April 2020. (CNW Group/Mount Pleasant Group)

Last year's donation was in recognition that food banks were seeing demand for their services double, triple or even quadruple during the pandemic. Meanwhile, the food banks were also dealing with additional challenges like fewer volunteers, complexities associated with social distancing and increased costs for PPE and other protective equipment. One year later, the challenges remain just as pressing as they were in 2021, which led Mount Pleasant Group to contribute to these important community hubs once again.

"COVID brought massive challenges to our community and our food bank. And while we're all tired of the pandemic, the increased need we are seeing at the Weston Area Emergency Support food bank is not going away," said Diana Stapleton, Chair Weston Area Emergency Support food bank. "We are grateful for the support of Mount Pleasant Group and of our community, which continues to provide invaluable support to our food bank." 

As a funeral and cemetery provider, the Mount Pleasant Group understands how devastating the pandemic has been on GTA communities.

"We are a community-based organization," said Glenn McClary, President and CEO, Mount Pleasant Group. "Our staff live in the neighbourhoods we serve, and they see the impacts that COVID-19 is having on families every day. With these donations, we want to help the food banks meet the needs of those in our communities who are struggling with food insecurity."

Wherever possible, donations will be hand delivered safely to food banks by staff from the local Mount Pleasant Group cemetery or funeral centre. A list of food banks receiving donations is attached.

About the Mount Pleasant Group: With roots stretching back to 1826, the Mount Pleasant Group (MPG) has provided cemetery, funeral and cremation services across the GTA for nearly 200 years. MPG is a passionate, innovative provider driven by an enduring commitment to diversity and customer choice.

Food bank	Location
Salvation Army Food Bank Oshawa	45 King St. E, Oshawa, ON L1H 1B2
Feed the Need	371A Marwood Drive, Oshawa, ON L1H 7P8
Salvation Army Food Bank Ajax	122 Hunt St., Ajax, ON  L1S 1P5
St. Paul's On-The-Hill Food Bank	1537 Pickering Pkwy, Pickering, ON L1V 6W8
Aurora Food Pantry	350 Industrial Pkwy,S., Aurora, ON L4G 3V7
Newmarket Food Pantry	1251 Gorham Rd. Unit 8, Newmarket, ON L3Y 8Y6
Richmond Hill Food Pantry	55 Newkirk Rd., Richmond Hill, ON L4C 3G4
ANIDA (All Nations International Development Agency)	4401 Steeles Avenue West, Toronto, ON M3N 2S4
The Vaughan Food Bank	5732 Hwy#7 Unit 3 & 4, Woodbridge, ON L4L 3A2
Humanity First Canada	600 Bowes Rd., Concord, ON L4K 4A3
SEVA Food Bank Malton	2832 Slough St., Mississauga, ON L4T 1G3
Knights Table of Peel	287 Glidden Rd Unit 4, Brampton, ON L6W 1H9
St. Mary's Food Bank	6341 Mississauga Rd., Mississauga, ON L5N 1A5
St. James Food Basket	400 Burnhamthorpe Rd., Toronto, ON   M9B 2A8
Seva Food Bank Wolfdale	2832 Slough St., Mississauga, ON L4T 1G3
The Mississauga Food Bank	3121 Universal Drive, Mississauga ON, L4X 2E2
Churches on the Hill Food Bank	230 St Clair Ave W, Toronto, ON M4V 1R5
Salvation Army Bloor Central Food Bank	789 Dovercourt Rd., Toronto, ON M6H 2X4
Thorncliffe Food Bank	1 Leaside Pk Drive Unit 5B, Toronto, ON, M4H 1R1
Fort York Food Bank	380 College Street West, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1S6
Allan Gardens Food Bank	353 Sherbourne Street, Toronto, ON M5A 2S3
St. Ann Food Bank	120 First Avenue, Toronto, ON M4M 1X1
Malvern Food Bank	4548 Sheppard Ave E., Scarborough, ON M1S 1V2
Kennedy Eglinton Food Bank	157 Byng Avenue, Scarborough, ON M1L 3P3
Warden Avenue Food Bank	20 Gilder Drive, Scarborough, ON M1K 5E1
Weston Area Emergency Support	1 King St, Weston, ON M9N 1K8
The Stop	P.O. Box 69, Stn. E., Toronto, ON, M6H 4E1
Parkdale Community Food Bank	1499 Queen Street West, Toronto ON, M6R 1A3
Salvation Army - Yorkminster Citadel	1 Lord Seaton Rd., Toronto ON M2P 2C1
Salvation Army North Toronto Community Church	42 Eglinton Avenue West, Toronto, ON M4P 1A6
Salvation Army - North York Temple	25 Centre Ave N., North York ON, M2M 2L4
Community Share	33 Overland Dr., North York, ON M3C 2C3
Flemingdon Food Bank	10 Gateway Blvd, North York, ON M3C 3A1
Lawrence Heights, North York Harvest Community Food Space	116 Industry St., North York ON M6M 4L8
Bathurst-Finch Community Food Bank	116 Industry St., North York ON M6M 4L8
Society For The Living Food Bank	274 Eddystone Ave, North York  M3N 1H7

SOURCE Mount Pleasant Group

John Thibodeau, Media Profile, [email protected], 416.358.2180