Ontario Pork launches new program to provide meals to food banks
By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com
Ontario Pork announced on Monday, its partnership with the Ontario Association of Food Banks, to rollout a new program this summer aimed at providing direct donations of ground pork to food banks. The program is expected to benefit more than 412,000 adults and children in need.
The announcement comes as Ontario food banks struggle heading into the summer months. Food bank use typically increases in the summer, because children are home from school and no longer have access to school-meal programs. Food bank use is high throughout June, July, and August.
Bill Laidlaw, Executive Director of the Ontario Association of Food Banks said that surprisingly, children are the largest group of food bank users in the province. Over 160,000 children access food banks every single month.
Ontario Pork Chair, Amy Cronin says that Ontario’s hog farmers are pleased to contrite to the cause, noting that farming is about providing food for people. The pilot program will be rolled out for the month of June into the fall. Ontario Pork, Elanco, Zoetis, Shur Gain, and Mabel Honor Farm – The Fraser Family, support the program.