ETOBICOKE, Ont. – With food bank usage climbing to new heights across the country, Truck News, International and Weston’s Bakery recently combined forces to help feed the needy.

“We were more than pleased to take part in this effort,” says Truck News editor John Curran, who was quick to pass the credit for the event on to contributing editor Harry Rudolfs.

“Harry (Rudolfs) was the driving force – both literally and figuratively – behind the work,” explains Curran. “Not only did he help organize the May 21 appeal, together with Lindy Frank of Harbinger Communications (the Canadian public relations agency for the International Truck and Engine Company), he even piloted the rig.”

Behind the wheel of a new International 8500 tractor, Rudolfs ran to Weston’s Bakery with the Daily Bread’s 48-ft. trailer in tow. After picking up hundreds of loaves of bread and bagels he ran them to the food bank for distribution among Toronto relief agencies. From there he also hauled a dozen skids to Trans Provincial Freightways in Mississauga, Ont. for forwarding to food banks across Northern Ontario.

The skids contained everything from soup to shampoo, and were bound specifically for the communities of Emo, Corbeil, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, South Porcupine, North Bay and Cochrane.

“We’re always happy to help out those in need,” a forklift driver at Trans Provincial Freightways says as Rudolfs waits for the skids to be offloaded. The freight is delivered free of charge and treated with as much respect as the rest of the company’s LTL cargo.

“The trucking community is incredibly generous,” says Aynsley Morris, transport coordinator for the Canadian Association of Food Banks. The proof is in the pudding – or whatever form the donation happens to come in.

While Truck News was at the Daily Bread’s loading docks, about a half-dozen trucks backed in and unloaded: Erb Transport delivering fresh produce; Morrow Transport from Cobourg, Ont. with canned goods; and smaller trucks bringing anything from infant formula to tea bags. The Toronto facility functions as a hub where goods are shipped to other regional centers across Canada. As well, warehouse workers sort and handle perishables, reclaimed and discontinued food stuffs, as well as some frozen goods. Recently, they’ve begun planting an experimental garden and building a training kitchen on their Etobicoke, Ont. property.

Morris has a list of about 40 transport companies who regularly donate their labor and equipment.

“They don’t get anything out of helping us except a good feeling,” she says. “But we can always use more.”

Call Morris at 416-203-9241 if your company is up to the challenge.