Food Bank of York Region packing 1,700 food hampers for families in need

Low and moderate-income residents in high-needs areas have been deemed eligible to receive the Christmas hampers as additional food support for the holidays

Newmarkettoday.ca
Dec. 8, 2021

This Christmas, 1,706 York Region households will go a little less hungry as they begin to receive food support from the Food Bank of York Region (FBYR), which was funded by the Regional Municipality of York to create a Christmas hamper project.

The FBYR and its team of volunteers will be individually hand-packing 1,706 holiday-themed food hampers, filled with non-perishable meal items, to be delivered to targeted residents who live in low and moderate-income areas within the region. The FBYR will be delivering the hampers while the program runs from Nov. 22 to Dec. 24.

“Investments into the community that provide food assistance support are crucial all year round, but the holidays always have a heavier impact on the number of people who are experiencing hunger,” explains Alex Bilotta, founder and CEO of the Food Bank of York Region. “Having funding provided to the FBYR, to fulfill a dire need with a project specifically for the holidays, is a well-thought-out initiative that will go a long way in fighting food insecurity this Christmas. Thankfully, we have the capacity to reach a large portion of the York Region population, especially those in need of food assistance this time of year.”

Low and moderate-income residents of York Region living in high-needs areas have been deemed eligible to receive the Christmas Hampers as additional food support for the holidays through the FBYR.

Thanks to a pre-existing partnership with Walmart, the FBYR was able to purchase all the necessary non-perishable food items in bulk and have them ready in their warehouse to be packed and delivered. Each holiday-themed hamper will include 26 non-perishable food products.

From Jan. 1 to Nov. 22, 2021, the FBYR has delivered healthy fresh and frozen perishable and non-perishable foods to over 6,501 households, and 18,876 unique individuals throughout its network of community partners and its own home delivery program. The 2021 year's demand in food security trends has remained on-par with 2020, seeing last year's numbers at 8,052 households and 24,070 unique individuals.

With continued community support and funding, the FBYR can deliver three meals with as little a donation as $1. For more information about the FBYR or ways to donate, please visit www.fbyr.ca.