Local independent grocer Vince's Market has made a record donation of $35,419 to Make Happy Tummies through its 2024 community product initiative.
The donation to the Grocery Foundation's nationwide school nutrition campaign, formally Toonies for Tummies, marked the largest in the Vince’s initiative’s seven-year history, which has also supported selected local organizations such as the Canadian Mental Health Association, Women’s Centre of York Region and Southlake Health.
"Vince's team is very excited about the 2024 final donation results for our 2024 community product initiative and we are grateful to all our customers who purchased a community product in 2024 and supported this amazing cause,” said Maria Ciarlandini, ambassador of community support for Vince's Market, which has locations in Newmarket, Sharon, Uxbridge and Tottenham.
Make Happy Tummies is supported by nearly 1,500 grocery retailers across Canada and works to nourish one in three children at risk of going to school on an empty stomach.
The funds raised over the past year through purchases of certain Vince’s community products and corporate sponsorships will go directly toward breakfast programs managed by the Grocery Foundation’s partners, Student Nutrition Ontario and Breakfast Club of Canada.
Vince’s Market announced that the Alzheimer Society will be the recipient of its 2025 campaign. Funds will go toward support services and programs for people living with dementia and their caregivers across three of its chapters: York Region, Simcoe County and Durham Region.
Vince’s community product initiative has raised a total of $178,928 since 2018 and with nine sponsors already on board for the 2025 campaign, the team is hoping to surpass this year’s record contribution.
