NEWS RELEASE
THE FOOD BANK OF YORK REGION
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Student Nutrition Ontario Central East (SNOCE) is providing funding to The Food Bank of York Region (TFBYR) to support children in our communities facing food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
SNOCE is looking for the best option to ensure that they are able to support students whom they normally reach via school-based nutrition programs during the time that they cannot access food due to the COVID-19 state of emergency. Since the schools have been closed, the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) has generously decided to allow SNOCE to re-allocate funds originally targeted for school support to a new directive with TFBYR that continues to support the children of York Region.
The partnership agreement will see that TFBYR is provided funding to further its efforts in the distribution of food to feed children between the ages of four to 18 within its network of local agencies throughout the nine municipalities of York Region. Any eligible agency within TFBYR network will receive the extra food support from this partnership. In 2019, TFBYR supported over 6,508 children through the support of its network of local agencies. Children alone make up 33 per cent of the 2019 hunger count in York Region.
TFBYR will use the funding provided to purchase and distribute grocery gift cards from Sobeys, Food Basics, and Metro stores. In lieu of grocery gift cards, the supported agencies also have the option to receive cash to purchase from TFBYR’s Farm Fresh Program. This second option gives additional support to the local farms of York Region providing them some financial relief during these trying times.
More fresh and nutritious produce can be purchased from the farms and delivered to the local agencies that support children via TFBYR. This Farm Fresh program can also help limit the spread of COVID-19 as there is very limited contact between people, and eliminates the need for residents to go out in public, adhering to social distancing rules currently in place.
Student Nutrition Ontario Central East: Through our lead agency, Peterborough Child & Family Centres, we work in partnership with local committees, school boards, public health units, and food procurement partners to ensure that every child can eat, learn, and succeed. We develop and implement healthy student meal programs in more than 675 schools across Central East Ontario, helping to provide students with access to healthy breakfasts, lunches and snacks at school. These meals are available to every student, regardless of need. For more information, please visit www.studentnutritionontarioce.ca.
The Food Bank of York Region: TFBYR is a food network hub serving the nine municipalities of York Region (Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham, Whitchurch-Stouffville, Newmarket, Aurora, East Gwillimbury, Georgina, and King). We source, collect, warehouse, and deliver surplus fresh, frozen, and non-perishable food donations for the 65+ local agencies within our network. For more information about TFBYR or ways to donate, please visit www.fbyr.ca and follow us on social media.
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