Chicken Farmers of Ontario (CFO) were delighted to participate in a CFO Cares: Farmers to Food Banks event in Meaford last week, to recognize a donation of 650 kilograms of safe, healthy, locally-grown chicken to the Meaford Food Bank.
“Food insecurity continues to be an issue for many Ontario families and Ontario chicken farmers are continuing to step up to tackle hunger in our local communities. Chicken farmers were proud to recognize regular donations of chicken, including 650 kilograms of locally-grown chicken, delivered to the Meaford Food Bank earlier this year,” said Andrea Veldhuizen, Chicken Farmers of Ontario’s first Vice-Chair and Board Director for the CFO Cares program. “Thanks to the continued dedication of the Ontario chicken farming community who donate their chicken to food banks year-round, since 2015 the CFO Cares: Farmers to Food Banks Program has donated over 10 million chicken meals.”
Paul Vickers, Member of Provincial Parliament for Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound, and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, joined chicken farmers to recognize the donation of 650 kilograms of chicken, which represents over 5,500 meals for families and individuals in need in the Municipality of Meaford catchment area. Since 2022, Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound has received donations totalling over 40,500 meals of chicken for local food banks.
“The CFO Cares: Farmers to Food Banks Program would not be possible without the support of partners like Maple Leaf Foods, which processes the Ontario-grown chicken, and Feed Ontario, which provides the logistical and administrative support to facilitate the donations reaching food banks across Ontario,” said Murray Opsteen, Chair, Chicken Farmers of Ontario. “I would also like to thank the Ontario government for being a key partner by continuing to support Ontario farmers, the Community Food Program donation tax credit, and for their leadership and advocacy in support of the responsible supply-management system.”
This donation of chicken was made by CFO, through the CFO Cares: Farmers to Food Banks Program, which enables chicken farmers to donate their chicken to food banks across Ontario. The CFO Cares: Farmers to Food Banks Program contributes over one million meals a year to local food banks. The CFO Cares: Farmers to Food Banks Program works in partnership with Maple Leaf Foods Inc. and Feed Ontario.
