As part of Food Banks Canada's annual After the Bell (ATB) initiative, trucking firms and sponsors connected to the Trucks for Change (T4C) network recently teamed up to build wholesome food packs.
The project attempts to end summertime childhood hunger by filling the gap left by the absence of school-based nutrition programs.
The Mississauga, Ontario event drew more than 50 volunteers from companies like Bison Transport, Erb Group of Companies, J.D. Smith and Sons, National Truck League, The Tandet Group, XTL Transport, Bridgestone Canada, GX Transportation Solutions, Kriska Transportation Group, Navistar Canada, and Transcourt.
Since 2020, T4C's carrier network has assisted in distributing approximately 450,000 food packs to more than 200 communities, and it is prepared to do so once more in 2023 by sending 185,000 lb. of kid-friendly and nutritious summer packs to food banks across Canada.
"As an After the Bell partner, Trucks for Change is pleased to have been invited to participate in the ATB Volunteer Packing event," T4C chairman Scott Smith stated in a news release. "We were able to contribute a little trucking expertise when it came to preparing the food packs and pallets for shipping, in addition to aiding in the construction and boxing of food packs."
The network's executive director, Betsy Sharples, said that the companies and their volunteers "really appreciated being part of the effort that goes into preparing the food packs" and added that "a bit of friendly competition between the packing stations added to the fun" after supporting the program for several years from a freight-movement perspective.
T4C will organize transportation services beginning this week through its network of "generous and community-minded carriers." Nearly 350 pallets will be delivered to 90 food banks across Canada. This year, ATB meal packs will be delivered by more than 25 different carriers from across Canada.