Newfoundland food hampers will provide more than 197,000 meals to support increased demand at food banks
Rogers employees in St. John’s volunteer to help organize, fill and distribute hampersST. JOHN’S, Newfoundland, Aug. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Stepping up to help address food insecurity facing many Canadian families, Rogers Communications’ Step Up to the Plate initiative with Food Banks Canada has arrived in Newfoundland, delivering food hampers that will provide more than 197,000 meals for local food banks across the province. These hampers will help fill the plates of more than 9,300 Newfoundlanders. The Step Up to the Plate initiative started in June at Rogers Centre in Toronto, with Rogers employee volunteers and their families filling food hampers with non-perishable food items that provide an individual with a week’s worth of meals. Trucks loaded with hampers and pallets of food have been on the move, destined for communities across Canada, where an unprecedented 8 million meals will be provided to Canadians when the initiative is completed this summer. On arrival in St. John’s, local Rogers employee volunteers are working with the St. John’s Community Food Sharing Association to organize and continue stuffing thousands of food hampers for distribution to local food banks to help those who need it most.“Newfoundland is part of our extended family at Rogers, and when our family needs help, it’s our responsibility to step up and pitch in, through food donations, volunteering, and more,” said Matt MacLellan, President of Atlantic Region, Rogers Communications. “Rogers has a long legacy of supporting our communities and giving back in Newfoundland. This is our 60th year as a company – certainly a year like no other – and we are here to roll up our sleeves and get to work so we can come through this together.”As the country begins to reopen, the economic impact of the pandemic continues to be significant, affecting food insecurity and demand at food banks. According to Food Banks Canada, which supports over 3,000 food banks and community agencies from coast-to-coast-to-coast – including the St. John’s Community Food Sharing Association – many local food banks have been severely impacted by COVID-19, from decreased volunteers and donations to having to adapt their operations, making it more challenging to meet their clients’ needs.“Food Bank usage throughout Newfoundland and Labrador on a per capita basis continues to be among the highest in Canada,” said Eg Walters, General Manager, St. John’s Community Food Sharing Association. “While we try to navigate through this current Covid-19 Pandemic we take comfort in knowing that Rogers and the Jays Care Foundation continue to work with us to support the less fortunate among us through the Step Up to The Plate hamper program. While funds and food raised is critical in helping those less fortunate among us, of equal importance is the public awareness that is generated through this initiative. We at The Community Food Sharing Association would like to thank Rogers and the Jays Care Foundation for their support in our fight against hunger.”Step Up to the Plate is part of The 60 Project, a year-long initiative to mark Rogers 60th anniversary by giving back and building a stronger Canada – from donations of time, money and fundraising support, to investing in Canada and the networks that keep our customers connected. We are bringing this commitment to life by partnering with community organizations like Food Banks Canada, Women’s Shelters Canada, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Pflag; providing Ted Rogers Community Grants to support organizations that help youth succeed inside and outside the classroom; investing in a 100% Canadian-based Customer Service team and in our networks to help Canada’s economy thrive and grow; and connecting the next generation to education and the support they need to build a bright future. The 60 Project is about making hope possible, right here, in the Canadian communities we call home.And with Step Up to the Plate and other initiatives this year, our Rogers family – all 25,000 strong, including here in Newfoundland – will come together to give back an unprecedented 60,000 volunteer hours. With action, we will stand together with those who need us most, to ensure that all Canadians have an opportunity to move forward to discover a new normal that is better than the one that came before.About Rogers
Rogers is a proud Canadian company dedicated to making more possible for Canadians each and every day. Our founder, Ted Rogers, purchased his first radio station, CHFI, in 1960. We have grown to become a leading technology and media company that strives to provide the very best in wireless, residential, sports, and media to Canadians and Canadian businesses. Our shares are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI). If you want to find out more about us, visit about.rogers.com.About Food Banks Canada
Food Banks Canada provides national leadership to relieve hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow in collaboration with the food bank network from coast-to-coast-to-coast. For 40 years, food banks have been dedicated to helping Canadians living with food insecurity. Over 3,000 food banks and community agencies come together to serve our most vulnerable neighbours who – last year – made 1.1 million visits to these organizations in one month alone, according to our HungerCount report. Over the past 10 years, as a system we’ve sourced and shared over 1.4 billion pounds of food and Food Banks Canada shared nearly $70 million in funding to help maximize collective impact and strengthen local capacity – while advocating for reducing the need for food banks. Our vision is clear: create a Canada where no one goes hungry. Visit www.foodbankscanada.ca to learn more.For more information:Rogers – [email protected], 647-747-5118St. John’s Community Food Sharing Association – [email protected], 709-682-5558A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4bceb356-c0d9-428c-8b9c-074acad75191
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