PLANT IT AND THEY WILL GLEAN: VOLUNTEERS HARVEST THANKSGIVING BOUNTY FOR FOOD
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Direct Energy looks to top last year's harvest of 10,000 pounds

MARKHAM, ON, Sept. 28 /CNW/ - On Tuesday, October 5, over 80 volunteers from Direct Energy will pick thousands of pounds of fresh vegetables to help local families and food banks in time for Thanksgiving.  The initiative, part of the Ontario Association of Food Banks' (OAFB) Community Harvest Ontario program, is taking place at Whittamore's Farm in Markham. The goal for the day is to harvest over 10,000 pounds of fresh, local foods for local food banks.   

"Thanksgiving is about sharing the bounty of Ontario's harvest," says Ed Borkowski, Executive Director of the Ontario Association of Food Banks, "Seventy-two percent of low-income Ontarians don't have access to their daily intake of fruits and vegetables; Whittamore's and the team from Direct Energy are taking the lead to ensure that local families can sit down to fresh Ontario foods this Thanksgiving."

The volunteers will be picking crops that are left on the land once the harvest has completed, a process is known as 'gleaning.'  In Ontario, it is estimated that over 25 million pounds of food remain on fields each year; this product is normally disposed of or tilled back into the soil.  

"Last year our employees walked into the fields with empty baskets and came out with 10,000 pounds of vegetables, in addition to knowing that their gleaning activities would benefit so many in their local communities," said Hillary Marshall, Vice President Communications, Direct Energy. "Our volunteers are excited to take part again and help the OAFB reach this year's goal in time for Thanksgiving."

OAFB and member food banks are working with companies and farmers across the province in order to access surplus food for those who are forced to turn to food banks.  Direct Energy was the first company to participate in Community Harvest Ontario when they gleaned 10,000 pounds of food at Whittamore's Farm for Thanksgiving in 2009.  In addition to the event at Whittamore's, other companies will be participating in similar events in Ottawa, Hamilton, and London throughout the month of October.

"Farmers in Ontario have been very generous in opening their fields to us, while companies like Direct Energy have provided the volunteer power that is needed to harvest these important foods," says Borkowski. "The partnership shows a great dedication to working towards a hunger-free Ontario."

If you would like to find out more about the Community Harvest Ontario program, please visit www.communityharvest.ca.

About OAFB

The Ontario Association of Food Banks (OAFB) is a network of over 100 food banks including communities across the province from Ottawa to Windsor, and Niagara Falls to Thunder Bay.  For more information about the OAFB, as well as hunger and poverty in Ontario, please visit www.oafb.ca.

About Direct Energy

Direct Energy is North America's largest provider of heating & cooling, plumbing and electrical services and a leading energy and energy-related services provider with over eight million residential and commercial customer relationships. Direct Energy provides customers with choice and support in managing their energy costs through a portfolio of innovative products and services. A subsidiary of Centrica plc (LSE: CNA), one of the world's leading integrated energy companies, Direct Energy operates in 46 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia and 10 provinces in Canada. To learn more about Direct Energy, please visit www.directenergy.com.

For further information:

or to arrange an interview, contact:

Todd Jaques
Ontario Association of Food Banks
416-656-4100 x2934

Crystal Jongeward
Direct Energy
416-590-3248
[email protected]