(TORONTO: May 20, 2024) — Fifty-two volunteers from thirteen trucking companies and sponsors affiliated with the Trucks for Change Network (T4C) came together last week to volunteer their time to assemble child-friendly food packs as part of Food Banks Canada’s annual After the Bell (ATB) food packing event.
The two-day packing event, held at the International Centre in Mississauga, takes place every May to assemble individual food packs so they are ready to be shipped to Canadian food banks in time for distribution to families over the summer.
“Trucks for Change is always pleased to participate in events, like this one, that benefit disadvantaged Canadians,” said Betsy Sharples, Executive Director, Trucks for Change Network. “We know the After the Bell program is crucial for many children and their families. It is an honour to have the participation of industry partners who bring staff and expertise to make the day fun as well as productive.”
The volunteers assembled food packs containing kid-friendly shelf-stable items such as milk, hummus, crackers, cereal, oatmeal, and sunflower seeds. Trucks for Change also provided certified lift truck operators for three days to help stage incoming food donations and load outgoing palleted food packs into trailers.
“Network members usually see our involvement with community donations as cargo, this hands-on activity brings industry together to contribute to Canadian communities in a different way,” said Betsy Sharples. “It was also a chance for them to work together to pay it forward and feel the real power of the T4C Network.”
After the Bell provides the food packs all summer when school-centred meal and snack programs don’t run. That means kids can more easily play and participate in other summer activities.
Food Banks Canada is building and shipping 200,000 food packs this year, up from 175,000 in 2023. Each child in the program gets one pack per week for eight weeks throughout the summer.
As an official After the Bell partner, T4C also coordinates deliveries of ATB pallets to food banks. T4C carriers, C.A.T. Inc., Eassons Transportation, GX Transportation Solutions, JD Smith, Maritime-Ontario, and Onfreight Logistics delivered larger orders from the event to seven food banks last week. Beginning at the end of May, at least 25 more carriers will combine to move smaller LTL shipments of food packs to 87 additional food banks located in Eastern Canada, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories.
In addition to lift truck operator services donated by JD Smith, Trucks for Change volunteers from these companies worked together to assemble food packs:
• Bison Transport
• Bridgestone Canada
• The Erb Group
• GX Transportation Solutions
• Kriska Transportation Group
• Loadlink Technologies
• National Truck League – A Westland Company
• Navistar Canada
• Northbridge Insurance
• Polaris Transportation
• Tandet Group
• Volvo Trucks Canada
• XTL Transport
To find out more about Trucks for Change and how it works, or to get involved, go to trucksforchange.org. For more on the After the Bell program, go to foodbankscanada.ca/after-the-bell.