BURLINGTON, ON – Chicken Farmers of Ontario (CFO) is supporting those effected by the high-impact derecho that passed through Ontario on May 21 leaving many without power – including the Peterborough and Ottawa food bank. Working with Feed Ontario, and through the CFO Cares: Farmers to Food Banks program, CFO was able to donate 5,000 meals of locally grown chicken, per food bank.
“As Ontario chicken farmers, it is our job to ensure that all Ontarians can access safe, healthy, locally grown chicken. On top of that, we also have the responsibility to our communities to step up and help-out when there is an emergency,” said Murray Opsteen, Chair of Chicken Farmers of Ontario. “We want to ensure that no matter the circumstance, Ontario grown chicken is always available to Ontarians and food banks.”
Environment Canada has said that the powerful storm that swept through Ontario involved a derecho – a rare widespread windstorm associated with a line of thunderstorms. Consequently, this left many without power for extended periods of time – like the Peterborough and Ottawa food bank. As a result, fresh and frozen food began to spoil due to the lack of power to run fridges and freezers. CFO was quick to act to support the Peterborough and Ottawa food bank to help replenish part of the refrigerated food that was spoiled.
“The storm left the majority of Peterborough residents and businesses without power for many days. As a result, nearly all of our food banks, meal programs, housing shelters and clients accessing emergency food were forced to empty their fridge and freezers,” said Ashlee Aitken, General Manager Kawartha Food Share. “We are so appreciative of the Chicken Farmers of Ontario for quickly jumping to action and generously donating a skid of chicken to help replenish supply at our food banks. The continued support we receive through the CFO Cares program is so greatly appreciated.”
This donation was made possible because of the CFO Cares: Farmers to Food Banks program. CFO Cares enables farmers to donate 300 chickens each year to local food banks, providing them with a steady supply of locally grown chicken. The CFO Cares: Farmers to Food Banks program works in partnership with Feed Ontario.
“Thanks to the continued support of the Ontario chicken farming community, since 2015, the CFO Cares program has donated over six million chicken meals,” said Andrea Veldhuizen, Chair of the CFO Cares Working Group and Board Director for District 4. “We are pleased that the CFO Cares program is available to help during a crisis, ensuring Ontarians are still able to access Ontario grown chicken for their plates.”
Source : CFO