(TORONTO: October 25, 2024) — Volunteers from across the Trucks for Change Network (T4C) came together this week to support Toronto’s Daily Bread Food Bank in an action-packed food sort challenge.
The 70 participants from network transportation companies and sponsors worked together in mixed teams and sorted the equivalent of 21,600 meals in three hours.
Executive Director Betsy Sharples was excited with the energy and effort. “Our network members are already leading the way in helping tackle hunger by shipping food for trusted charity partners across the country,” she says. “But by participating in a food sort, participants also got to see the inner workings of a food bank and get insight into the incredible work they do in communities.”
70 participants from 13 transportation companies and sponsors gave their time to take part in the fun and rewarding activity: Bison Transport, Erb Transport, ISAAC Instruments, J.D. Smith, Kriska Transportation, Left Lane Associates, Navistar Canada, Northbridge Insurance, Polaris Transport, Revolution Staffing, Tandet Group, Transcourt Tank Leasing, and Volvo Trucks.
The Trucks for Change food sort was an inspiring experience for everyone involved, leading to laughter and team awards like the “Heart and Hustle Award” for the most spirited sorters, and the “Teamwork Triumph Award” for the best group performance. There was also a “gold medal” awarded by Daily Bread Food Bank for the team that sorted the most food.
The food sort, while being a community-focused activity, is also a fun social event: teams were made up of individuals from various organizations, which encouraged networking and led to building industry-wide connections and camaraderie. Each team wore a different coloured t-shirt bearing the Trucks for Change Network’s logo and each team had a fun name to identify themselves.
The rise in food bank reliance across the country by Canadian families has reached alarming proportions. Toronto’s Daily Bread Food Bank sees about 330,000 client visits each month, compared to 60,000 before the pandemic.
While transporting food for trusted charity partners is a cornerstone of T4C’s activities, it is not the only charitable activity. Team building and networking events are also held throughout the year, all with the goal of assisting charity partners in their efforts to alleviate food insecurity across the country.
Trucks for Change volunteers at Daily Bread Food Bank*
