Trucks deliver food to battle child hunger

by Today's Trucking

Dozens of Canadian carriers helped deliver 175,000 food packs to support food-insecure children in high-needs communities in May and June this year.

The fleets that are part of the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) and Trucks for Change (T4C) made the deliveries to nearly 80 food banks across Canada as part of Food Banks Canada’s After the Bell program. Food Banks Canada’s HungerCount 2021 reports that 33% of food bank users in Canada are children. After the Bell was created to help fill the child hunger gap during the summertime when school meal programs are closed.

“Following up last year’s successful campaign, we continued our collaborative efforts with the Canadian Trucking Alliance in 2022. I am proud to say that we were able to build on our experience to broaden our geographical reach by moving more pallets to more food banks,” said T4C chairman, Scott Smith.

Trucks for Change logo
(Photo: Supplied)

Capacity challenges in 2022 certainly factored into this year’s program, said the network’s executive director, Betsy Sharples. “But that did not seem to deter Canadian trucking companies from doing what they could to support this important initiative that saw an increase of nearly 20% in Food Banks Canada’s commitment in the number of food packs this year when compared to 2021.”

CTA’s CEO Stephen Laskowski added, “The annual After the Bell program provides an ideal opportunity for our members to pay it forward and give back to Canadian communities. Our industry is full of people with generous hearts who live, work and play in all parts of this country. It is a privilege to acknowledge their community contributions.”

Kirstin Beardsley, CEO of Food Banks Canada, is thankful for CTA’s and T4C’s support.

“This summer will be the toughest Canada’s food banks have ever experienced in our 41-year history,” she said. “Many families with children are going for the first time, making the difficult choice to ask for help because the money simply isn’t stretching far enough to cover expenses. That’s why Food Banks Canada’s After the Bell program is needed now more than ever. It’s thanks to our partners like the Canadian Trucking Alliance and Trucks for Change, that we are able to continue helping those that need it most this summer.”


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  • This needed 20% of children parents pay over 50% of net income after income tax and child care medical supplies for rent over 1% of all children are homeless in ont. We also need to stand up and have a program to get water hydro and heat for those unable to do that on their own or for homeless shelters with no hydro in huron county or other parts of ont Canada