Canadian trucking companies part of the Trucks for Change Network wrapped up a two-month-long national campaign this month, which saw 29 carriers deliver almost 95,000 food packs earmarked for hungry children to 84 food banks across the country. The deliveries were made for After the Bell, a Food Banks Canada initiative.
“The number of families experiencing food insecurity is soaring across the country and unfortunately this has a significant impact on children,” explains Kirstin Beardsley, CEO, of Food Banks Canada. “The need for us to work together to improve children’s access to food, especially during the summer months when school-based meal and snack programs are not in session is paramount. This is why we appreciate our partnership with Canadian Trucking Alliance and Trucks for Change, through their support, we can continue helping those who need it most this summer.”
Trucks for Change Network, board chair, Scott Smith, is proud of how Canadian trucking companies once again answered the call to help deliver food packs to food banks across the country. “In 2023 the carriers delivered to all corners of the country — from Newfoundland & Labrador in the east to Vancouver Island in the west, and as far north as Inuvik in the Northwest Territories.”
“This year, men and women from the Network’s carriers contributed to the life cycle of the food pack program by participating in the After the Bell volunteer food packing event,” said Betsy Sharples, Executive Director, Trucks for Change Network. “Not only did we help build and box food packs, but we were able to provide a little trucking expertise when it came to preparing the food packs and pallets for shipping.”
Trucks for Change is a national network of community-minded trucking companies that are members of the Canadian Trucking Alliance, and that provide transportation for charitable organizations.
Food Banks Canada’s After the Bell program provides children in high-needs communities with “summer packs” containing nutritious meals when in-school breakfast and lunch programs are not available. Food Banks Canada is a charitable organization representing the food bank community across Canada.
Thank you to carriers that participated in the 2023 After the Bell program:
- Apps Cargo Express
- B & R Eckels
- Bandstra Transportation
- Bison Transport
- Canada Cartage
- ColdStar Solutions
- CW Henderson
- Eassons Transport Group
- The Erb Group of Companies
- Gardewine
- Grimshaw Trucking
- Groupe Guilbault
- GX Transport
- Hartrans Cartage Services
- J.D. Smith and Sons
- Kriska Transportation Group
- Lethbridge Truck Terminals
- Manitoulin Transport
- Maritime-Ontario
- Minimax Express
- Mountain Transport Institute
- Onfreight Logistics
- PNW Group
- Rosenau Transport
- Snowbird Transportation
- Sokil Express Lines Ltd.
- Spring Creek Carriers
- TST-CF
- Whitecourt Transport
For more on Food Banks Canada’s After the Bell program, go to afterthebell.foodbankscanada.ca
For more about Trucks for Change, go to trucksforchange.org