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McCain Foods donates 20 million pounds of potatoes to combat food insecurity

McCain Foods announced a donation of up to 20 million pounds (lb) of potato products to support Food Banks Canada, Second Harvest and other local food security organizations across the country. This commitment represents 60-million servings of potatoes that will be provided to Canadian communities struggling with food insecurity.

Foodbanks across Canada are encouraged to reach out to their provincial food banks associations and Second Harvest with their requests. To further help, McCain Foods Limited is also engaging its subsidiary Day & Ross – one of Canada’s largest transportation companies – to help get the donations to those in need as quickly as possible.

“In this time of physical distancing, feelings of community and support are ever more important,” said Max Koeune, president and CEO of McCain Foods. “That is why we are working with charitable organizations across Canada to help fight hunger in our country.”

Food banks play a vital role in serving Canada’s most vulnerable neighbours. Even before the escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than one-million visits were made to food banks across Canada each month, according to Food Banks Canada’s HungerCount report. Now, the demand is even greater for those struggling with food insecurity and hardest hit by this crisis.

“Because of COVID-19, many local food drives typically held this time of year are cancelled. McCain Food’s significant donation will help replenish the inventory at a time when food donations have drastically decreased,” says Chris Hatch, CEO of Food Banks Canada. “We are grateful for this contribution as we face the increase in demand this pandemic is causing.”

“Because of COVID-19, many local food drives typically held this time of year are cancelled. McCain Food’s significant donation will help replenish the inventory at a time when food donations have drastically decreased,” says Chris Hatch, CEO of Food Banks Canada.

Second Harvest is Canada’s largest food rescue charity that has been dedicated to environmental protection and hunger relief. Since COVID-19, the organization has received hundreds of new requests for food support from charities and non-profits across Canada through its distribution hub in Ontario and their national online platform FoodRescue.ca.

“Ensuring all Canadians have access to nutritious, fresh food during this crisis is a collective effort, and we are proud to be working with McCain Foods to tackle this issue together” says Lori Nikkel, CEO, Second Harvest. “Our mission is that no one gets left behind, and this generous donation will help us fulfill that mission by directly feeding those hardest hit by this pandemic.”

McCain Food’s announcement today comes in addition to approximately $1.3 million in donations from the McCain Foundation; which were made last week to provide urgent support to food banks, shelters, community kitchens and school programs in New Brunswick, Manitoba and Alberta.

Earlier in April, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $100-million investment in support of national, regional, and local organizations across Canada, including Food Banks Canada and Second Harvest, that are reaching people and communities experiencing food insecurity.