Egg Farmers of Ontario announce 50th anniversary Food Bank Egg Donation Program

MISSISSAUGA, ON, March 25, 2014 /CNW/ - Egg Farmers of Ontario (EFO) announced today, that in celebration of its upcoming 50th anniversary, it is introducing a new egg donation program in collaboration with the Ontario Association of Food Banks (OAFB) and a number of Ontario egg grading companies.

"Ontario's egg farmers have a strong record of donating to food banks and we want to give more through a program that makes it easy for egg farmers and all supporters to donate fresh, high-quality Ontario eggs to food banks across the province," said EFO Chair Scott Graham. "Egg Farmers of Ontario has committed to ensure that at least $250,000 worth of eggs will be donated to the OAFB during the first year of the new voluntary program."

The commitment will provide about 12,000 dozen eggs per month throughout the year. EFO's net financial contribution will be reduced gradually as voluntary egg donations are pledged, keeping donations constant at about 12,000 dozen eggs per month. If voluntary egg donations exceed this level during the year, donations to Food Banks will increase accordingly.

Participating Ontario egg graders are supporting the program by donating all of the egg grading and packaging costs. The program is open to all Ontario graders. Burnbrae Farms and Gray Ridge Egg Farms have already committed to support the program.

"There are no words to express our gratitude for this program or the difference that it will make in our work to address hunger in Ontario," said Bill Laidlaw, OAFB Executive Director. "It's hard to believe that there are over 370,000 people, including 131,000 children, accessing food banks every month – but it's true. The new egg donation program will undeniably make a tremendous impact in the nutrition available to these individuals. We truly thank the Egg Farmers of Ontario and all of their partners for this incredible commitment and the amazing impact that this new program will make in our province."

The OAFB is a network of 130 food banks and 1,100 hunger relief programs and agencies across the province. Their mission is to nurture communities by providing food, funding and solutions to reduce hunger with the vision of a hunger-free Ontario.

The OAFB has an excellent allocation and distribution system that shares food and financial donations based on ongoing assessments of needs and resources. The OAFB works in partnership with local transportation providers in Kitchener, Mississauga, Thunder Bay, North Bay, Ottawa, Trenton and Barrie to serve its member food banks and will co-ordinate efficient distribution of eggs donated under the program.

Egg Farmers of Ontario represents the approximately 440 egg farmers and pullet growers in Ontario. It is an independent, self-governing organization funded entirely by egg and pullet farmers.

SOURCE: Egg Farmers of Ontario

Bill Mitchell, Director of Public Affairs, Egg Farmers of Ontario, 905-858-9790, [email protected]; Amanda King, Manager of Communications, Ontario Association of Food Banks, 416-656-4100 x2932, [email protected]