October 19,  2020

Cargill, Food Banks Canada respond to increase demand for food relief

Cargill has stepped up its efforts to help address the increased demand for food relief in Canada and ensure residents have food on their tables.

To date in 2020, Cargill has committed US$3.5 million to food banks across Canada, with US$2.1 million of the total given specifically in response to COVID-19 relief efforts. This equates to eight million meals distributed from British Columbia to Quebec. In addition to financial support, the company has donated 364,928kg of products to local food banks through partnerships with organisations such as Food Banks Canada.

"Cargill has been a long-time supporter of Food Banks Canada and the entire food banking network, supporting not only financially, but with critical product donations," said Chris Hatch, CEO at Food Banks Canada. "We're so pleased to continue to work with Cargill to provide training and information to ensure that local food banks can deliver food to their clients in a safe manner."

For the last six years, Cargill and Food Banks Canada have worked to provide and training and resources to local food banks. In the face of the pandemic, the two organisations have looked for opportunities to reach out further in to the community.

"We're humbled to work alongside the Food Banks Canada team to address hunger issues across Canada," said Jeff Vassart, president of Cargill's Canadian operations. "We share a similar purpose, to nourish the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way. Together, we can meet today's food insecurity challenge and improve our food system so that it works for all Canadians."

In addition to working with Food Banks Canada, Cargill partners with Second Harvest, Breakfast Clubs Canada and other provincial and local organisations.

"Through these partnerships, we are able to put our values into practice – to reach higher, do the right thing and put people first," said Vassart.

Cargill's work in Canada is just one example of how the company is partnering with nonprofit organisations around the globe to ensure people have access to nutritious food. Across all of the communities where Cargill's employees live and work, the company provided more than 39 million meals to global and local food bank partners this past fiscal year.

- Cargill