TORONTO, April 28, 2020 /CNW/ - The Sprott Foundation is making a transformational donation of $20 million to extend food supports for Canadians, many of whom are confronting hunger and food insecurity as a result of the pandemic's economic toll.
Two organizations will receive $10M each: Second Harvest, the largest food rescue organization in Canada, supporting non-profits and charities with perishable surplus food; and Community Food Centres Canada, which builds health, belonging and social justice in low-income communities through the power of food.
A minimum of $12 million will be directed to the purchase of grocery gift cards, which will be made available via application to community groups across the country who help feed hungry or at-risk Canadians. The remaining funds will support Second Harvest's expansion of food rescue to ensure good healthy food gets to underserved communities across Canada and will enable CFCC's partner network to safely provide emergency meals, good food hampers, and produce boxes.
"We set out to find the fastest and most effective way to get food into the hands of those who need it most," said Eric Sprott, co-founder and chairman of the board of the Sprott Foundation. "Local community groups know what their neighbours need to cope with during these difficult times and gift cards empower organizations and individuals to make their own choices."
This generous donation continues The Sprott Foundation's legacy of supporting initiatives that enable self-sufficiency and dignity for low-income Canadians, including more than thirty years of support for food programs in Canada.
"Our family has been devastated to see the rise in hunger and food insecurity across the country, with urgent need not only in major urban centres but also rural, Northern and Indigenous communities," said Juliana Sprott, Chief Giving Officer of the Sprott Foundation. "Everyone should have access to healthy food and be free from hunger. This gift is intended to meet a broad range of needs regardless of geography, while offering flexibility to each community in how those needs are addressed."
Organizations can apply for gift cards via Second Harvest's online food donation platform FoodRescue.ca and to learn more about financial and gift card support through Community Food Centres Canada's Good Food Access Fund.
"We thank the Sprott family for their leadership and for this meaningful donation to Canadians," said Lori Nikkel, CEO of Second Harvest. "We know all too well there are countless community organizations who simply cannot meet the escalating need across the country right now. This injection of life changing funding will have a tremendous impact on the lives of Canadians during this very difficult time in our history. If you're a community group trying to feed hungry Canadians – we encourage you to apply for this generous support."
"Food insecurity was an urgent problem in Canada even before COVID-19, with 1 in 8 Canadians struggling to put food on the table. It's now become a deeper national crisis", said Nick Saul, CEO of Community Food Centres Canada. "The Sprott family has been an essential partner to our good food movement since the very beginning. We are grateful that they have stepped forward with this incredible act of leadership and generosity. Their donation will ensure that our most vulnerable neighbours across the country will be able to safely access good food during these unprecedented times."
About Second Harvest and FoodRescue.ca
Second Harvest is the largest food rescue organization in Canada and a global thought leader on food recovery. Working across the supply chain – from farm to retail – we capture surplus food before it ends up in landfill and has a negative environmental impact. Since 1985, Second Harvest has redirected more than 155 million pounds of food and prevented over 192 million pounds of greenhouse gas equivalents from entering our atmosphere. Supported by hundreds of corporations, foundations, and the community at large, Second Harvest rescues and delivers enough food to provide over 50,000 meals every day, benefiting a growing network of over 1,500 social service organizations across Canada. Second Harvest also developed FoodRescue.ca, a free online platform that directly connects businesses with surplus, unsold food to local organizations to positively impact our environment and ensure good food gets to people who can use it. With the escalating global pandemic, Second Harvest is leading the Food Rescue Canadian Alliance (FRCA), that brings together government, private and non-profit sectors to ensure food reaches the most vulnerable members of our communities, from coast-to-coast.
About Community Food Centres Canada and The Good Food Access Fund
CFCC builds dynamic and responsive Community Food Centres and food programs that support people to eat well, connect with their neighbours and contribute, through advocacy and mutual support, to a more just and inclusive Canada. With our 200+ partners, we work to eradicate poverty, food insecurity and improve the health and well-being of low-income Canadians. The Good Food Access Fund was established by CFCC in March 2020 to ensure that our partners working on the front lines in 175 communities across Canada can purchase the food and supplies required to support our most vulnerable neighbours.
SOURCE Second Harvest
Media Contacts: Second Harvest - Lori Nikkel, [email protected], 647-382-0159; Community Food Centres Canada - Juniper Locilento, [email protected], 416-576-2561
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