Unsuspected Partnerships forming: Moving Companies and local food distributor partner with Meal Exchange to support Post Secondary Students during the COVID Pandemic
TORONTO, June 24, 2020 /CNW/ - Amidst the COVID pandemic, thousands of post-secondary students have been affected. These vulnerable have a limited access to resources and certainly even less access to good food.
Meal Exchange has seen an exponential increase in the number of students reaching out for emergency food aid amidst the pandemic. Within a matter of days hundreds of students had registered for weekly good food boxes to help carry them through the pandemic.
"Post secondary students are in need of food aid now. We knew before the pandemic that nearly 40% of students were food insecure, that number has increased significantly over the last several weeks and they need our help, now." says Executive Director, Farheen Khan of Meal Exchange.
Meal Exchange was quick to mobilize support delivering its first food boxes within days of the pandemic being announced. And thanks to the generous support from the McConnell Foundation, Meal Exchange has been able to support over 1200 students to date.
Unique partnerships have continued to emerge as the need continues to grow across the country. In Toronto, boxes for students have been delivered through Foodshare and 100 Kilometer Farms. 100 Kilometer Farms which was primarily a food distributor to restaurants, has also shifted to offering boxed produce to individuals and families.
To help get the food boxes to students, an incredible partnership was forged with Atlas Van Lines and AMJ Campbell investing nearly $100,000 in-kind to utilize their moving trucks to deliver food support to students.
Though completely outside their general scope of business, for the last few months, these exceptional moving companies Atlas Van Lines & AMJ Campbell have worked diligently to get boxes of produce to students cross the Greater Toronto Area.
"This pandemic has taught us about the importance of finding creative solutions to problems in the food system. These incredibly creative responses by unexpected partners is what this is all about. This is a real culmination of humans coming together for the greater good. We are so grateful for the support of all of our partners from local farmers to national grocery, enabling us to support students in need." says Founder & Board Chair, Rahul Raj.
Call to Action: Meal Exchange is asking the community and general population to give generously at this time. Donations can be made at goodfoodnow.ca
"The average cost of a good food box is $21 dollars a week. We need your help and we need your help now. Students are in need and our goal is to continue to support as many students as possible at this time" says Jaimie White Campaigns and Network lead for Meal Exchange.
Filming/ Media opportunity: June 24, 2020 @ 10am
Members of the media are invited to interview and film the picking up of boxes from the 100 KM Warehouse located at 19 Colville Road, main intersection is Keele and Lawrence. Members of Meal Exchange, 100 Kilometer Foods, Atlas Van Lines and AMJ media representatives will be available for interviews and to answer any questions.
About Meal Exchange
Meal Exchange is a nationally registered charity that has inspired Canadian students to help build healthy, just and sustainable food systems, for over 25 years. Our mission is to empower students to use food to build healthy, just, and environmentally sustainable communities across Canada. Our vision is bold, yet attainable: A country where all people are able to live and eat with dignity, sustained by healthy food, welcoming communities, and a thriving, sustainable planet.
SOURCE Meal Exchange
Media Contact: Farheen Khan, Executive Director, Meal Exchange, Phone; 647-971-5594, Email: [email protected]; Secondary Contact: Jaimie White, Communications Lead, Meal Exchange, Phone: 289-231-9408, Email: [email protected]
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