Farm Credit Canada’s Drive Away Hunger campaign has provided over 143 million meals during the last year, the organization’s president and chief executive officer announced on Feb. 14.
In total, 143,210,277 meals were provided in 2023 through the Drive Away Hunger program which has run for two decades, Justine Hendricks shared at the Future of Food Conference in Ottawa.
“This year’s remarkable total is a testament to the considerable hard work and support provided by exceptional partners across Canada,” she said.
Producers, processors, distributors and grocers addressing food waste and helping feed Canadians in need now more than ever, Hendricks said.
“The Canadian food system has come together through Drive Away Hunger and the results this year prove we are stronger together.”
To mark the 20th anniversary year of the campaign, FCC matched $1 million in new donations, helping to accelerate the total raised. The organization’s match will be shared by Food Banks Canada and Second Harvest Canada, who will direct the funding to underserved rural and remote areas in need of support, a press release sent out on Feb. 14 said, since 29 per cent of Canada’s food banks are in rural and remote communities, where food can be more expensive and difficult to access.
One in six Canadians experience hunger every day, data from Statistics Canada said. FCC’s goal is to encourage more collaboration and innovation to get food to those who need it and address important issues like food waste simultaneously, Hendricks said.
“It would be wonderful if there was a day when Drive Away Hunger wasn’t necessary, but the reality is the need is growing and as an industry we have an obligation to respond,” she said, before thanking everyone in the Canadian food system who has shared their resources, resources, ideas and drive this year. “I invite more industry partners to join us in the coming year to see the change we can make together.”
