What happens ‘After the Bell’ rings for the summer?

Each month, over 307,000 Canadian children turn to food banks in Canada for help. School breakfast, lunch and after school programs provide much needed support, but where do those children go in July and August?

Food Banks Canada hosted its third annual After the Bell packing day to assemble specially created food packs for children during the summer months, when it’s often needed most.

On May 14th and May 15th, Food Banks Canada hosted over 300 corporate volunteers from 15 corporate companies who came together to show their commitment to relieving child hunger and allowing kids to have a worry free and joyful summer.

Working together, corporate volunteers helped assemble 20,200 food packs over the two-day event. In total, this year’s After the Bell program aims to distribute 69,000 food packs across the country in eight provinces and one territory through local food banks.

“Summer hunger is a very real issue. Most children look forward to summer vacation as a time for fun and rest, but for those living with food insecurity, it can be a time of worry. After the Bell helps fill the gap during the summer months with nutritious food packs for hungry kids,” says Chris Hatch, CEO of Food Banks Canada.

With a financial supplement provided by Food Banks Canada, local food banks will add fresh fruit and vegetables and deliver the packs to children in their communities over the summer. This year’s packs contain shelf stable milk, shelf-stable hummus and crackers, cereal bars, cereal, applesauce and oatmeal.

“French’s is proud to be able to support After the Bell financially, but more importantly, to also send a group of our team members to help assemble these critical packs.  No child should ever go hungry, and it has given us immense pleasure to contribute to a program that gets food to children in need this summer.” says Cheryl Radisa, VP, Marketing McCormick Canada

The amazing and dedicated corporate volunteers have helped make an impact in reducing hunger and raising awareness of the issue of child hunger in Canada.

 
 
 
 
 
 

We hope to continue the momentum in growing the program and pack 100,000 food packs in 2019. For more information on how you can support the After the Bell program in 2019 please contact Erin Filey Wronecki at erin@foodbankscanada.ca.

A special thank you to the International Centre for making this day possible.