Trucks For Change is preparing to reconnect carriers and charities this year to help the growing number of Canadians in need of support.
Trucks for Change connects a network of about 60 carriers to requests from charities, using an online freight matching tool to match the loads. The program leverages extra truck and trailer capacity to help move goods at heavily discounted rates or no cost at all.
Since 2011, the non-profit’s network has shipped 23.6 million pounds of charitable donations over 650,000 miles (more than 1 million kilometers), using donated and discounted services valued at a collective $535,000.
“We live in a country where we are extremely fortunate with what we have overall. That does not mean to say that there aren’t a lot of Canadians who are not as fortunate as many of us. Particularly in the business world where companies have success, it does feel good to help when you can,” Betsy Sharples, executive director, Trucks For Change Network, told Trucknews.com
“Our philosophy is many hands make light work. We could have used a handful of carriers to manage this, but we want to spread it to demonstrate the [trucking] industry is a very charitable and giving community,” Sharples says.
Beyond food banks, the non-profit also supported the After The Bell program that helps children who rely on in-school breakfast and lunch programs throughout summer months. ShipNorthAmerica helps organize those shipments.
Several companies also participated in builds for a Habitat for Humanity.
And this year, Trucks For Change plans to continue working with the For Good Foundation and find ways to add efficiencies and streamline the process for carriers and food banks.
See full story here.