Food banks benefit from milk donation announced at The Royal
TORONTO, Nov. 9, 2017 /CNW/ - Ontario children whose parents rely on food banks are getting welcome nourishment from the province's dairy farmers. Over the next five years, they will taste the cool refreshing goodness of milk and delicious dairy products thanks to a donation of $150,000 from the Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO). In making the announcement at The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in honour of Canada's 150th, Graham Lloyd of DFO said the need is great for dairy products in food banks.
According to Carolyn Stewart, executive director of the Ontario Association of Food Banks, the organization's members serve over 335,000 people each month and, of those, 113,000 are children under the age of 11. With this donation, she says the dairy farmers are helping meet the nutritional needs of these children.
"Farmers make it possible for people in need to enjoy local food every month," Stewart explains. "This donation is providing the connection so that these Ontarians can benefit from our robust agricultural sector."
The DFO is partnering with Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ltd, which will provide dairy products at cost to maximize the donation.
"Many Gay Lea farmers already donate to food banks through a check off program, so this partnership goes above and beyond what we are already doing," says Steve Dolson, a dairy farmer and chair of Gay Lea. Approximately 1-million litres of milk is donated annually to food banks by dairy farmers now, he adds, but the DFO partnership will allow more milk and milk products to reach more families in need.
"The Royal is where the farming community meets and it helps people in the city to see where milk comes from," Dolson says about making the announcement at The Fair.
Stewart agrees that The Royal is a good place to talk about dairy products and the importance they play in growing healthy children. "Farmers play a key role in providing access to good food," she says.
About The Royal:
The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is the world's largest combined indoor agricultural and equestrian show. This year, the 95th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair runs November 3 - 12, 2017 at Exhibition Place, Toronto. For competition schedules, live webcasting, results and to purchase tickets, please visit www.royalfair.org.
The Royal is supported in part by the Province of Ontario and City of Toronto.
SOURCE Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
Karen Poncelet, Marketing Communications and Community Relations Manager, The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, 39 Manitoba Drive, Exhibition Place, Toronto, ON M6K 3C3, Direct: 416-263-3411, Fax: 416-263-3488
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