Mount Pleasant Group donates $270K to food banks across GTA 2nd-year in row

36 food banks, 5 of which are in York Region will receive portion of donation

Yorkregion.com
March 4, 2022
Aileen Zangouei

Food banks across the GTA, five of which are in the York Region, received funds through a $270,000 donation made by Mount Pleasant Group (MPG).

This marks the second year in a row MPG has donated to local food banks across the GTA. 36 food banks will receive $7,500 each to help them meet the need for their services in their local communities.

MPG owns and operates cemeteries, funeral centres and cremation centres in communities across the GTA, and they understand how devastating the impact of the pandemic has been.

The donation last year was made in recognition and in the face of seeing food banks meeting the high demand for their services. The extra challenges the COVID-19 pandemic poses on food banks and hunger are still relevant today, so MPG donated again this year.

The Aurora Food Bank, Newmarket Food Pantry, Richmond Hill Food Pantry, The Vaughan Food Bank, and Humanity First Canada are some of the few agencies that will benefit from the donation.

"COVID brought massive challenges to our community and our food bank. And while we’re all tired of the pandemic, the increased need we are seeing at the Weston Area Emergency Support food bank is not going away," said Diana Stapleton, Chair of Western Area Emergency Support food bank.

"We are grateful for the support of Mount Pleasant Group and of our community, which continues to provide invaluable support to our food bank," Stapleton added.

Donations will be hand-delivered where possible to food banks by staff from the local MPG cemetery or funeral centre.

According to Glenn McClary, President and CEO of MPG, they are a community-based organization, and their staff live in the neighbourhood they serve.

"They see the impacts that COVID-19 is having on families every day. With these donations, we want to help the food banks meet the needs of those in our communities who are struggling with food insecurity."