Loblaw recognized at Food Banks Canada awards

At Food Banks Canada’s first annual corporate partnership awards yesterday in Toronto Loblaw won the Judges Award of Distinction for its Extra Helping national food drive in 2011.

The food drive has raised more than $3.6 million and 3.3 million pounds of food since its inception in 2009.

The retailer has also donated more than $875,000 to Food Banks Canada’s national food sharing system.

The Innovation Award went to Campbell’s Canada for its Nourish complete meal in a can. The new soup conceived and developed by Campbell’s employees, is high in protein and is easy to prepare, making it an ideal food for food banks to share.

Donor of the Year, recognizing a corporate partner that has made a significant commitment through their diverse support to the food banking network in 2011 went to Kraft Canada. Kraft was recognized for its wide range of investment including a significant philanthropic donation, community-giving campaigns, over 3 million pounds of food donated and gifts-in-kind and volunteer service.

Award of Distinction was presented to the Investors Group for its positive impact on the issue of hunger or food banking in Canada. Support from Investors Group has enabled Food Banks Canada to actively engage and educate the public about hunger in Canada.

Videos of award recipients can be seen here.

Yesterday Food Banks Canada also launched a public engagement campaign sanotohunger.ca to educate Canadians about the root causes of hunger and ask them to make a pledge to say no to hunger.

Close to 900,000 Canadians are assisted by food banks every month, and hunger affects people from all walks of life.

Photo credit: Peter McCusker.