In 2024, thanks to our valued partners and donors, Food Banks Canada was able to distribute millions of pounds of food across the country and invest millions of dollars in food banks and other community organizations serving people experiencing food insecurity.
Food Banks Canada’s Partner Awards program shines a spotlight on remarkable contributors to these collective achievements. We selected the honorees based on their total contributions in 2024, the significance of their impact, and their engagement with our mission of relieving hunger today and preventing hunger tomorrow.
We’re excited to celebrate the following awardees:
Product Partner of the Year
To meet clients’ needs and fill gaps that aren’t covered in food donations, food banks are now buying more food than ever before. Kraft Heinz offers relief from that budgetary strain by providing a consistent supply of high-demand products, such as pasta sauce, and nutrient-rich products, such as peanut butter.
In 2024, Kraft Heinz gifted almost two million pounds of newly produced food to food banks across Canada. It was delivered at regular intervals, meaning that food banks and the people they serve could count on these products. To organizations and families that face a great deal of uncertainty, the significance of a predictable supply of staple products is hard to overstate.
A pallet of Kraft product arrives at North York Harvest Food Bank in Toronto
Volunteers from Lineage attend Food Banks Canada’s After the Bell packing day event.
Services In-Kind Partner of the Year
In-kind services such as food transportation and warehousing are essential to Food Banks Canada as we work to distribute large-scale food donations throughout the national network of food banks.
In 2024, Lineage Logistics played a vital role in the food supply chain by providing temperature-controlled warehousing and logistics solutions. Their ongoing partnership with Food Banks Canada provides the storage required to preserve and keep food before it reaches the people who need it most. Lineage Logistics also donates excess food in collaboration with their partners, further adding to their valuable contribution.
Funding Partner of the Year
Food bank use has almost doubled since 2019. Food Banks Canada relies on strong, long-term partnerships to help food banks grow their capacity and rise to this urgent challenge. In 2024, Walmart Canada renewed their partnership with Food Banks Canada to execute their annual in-store and online Fight Hunger. Spark Change fundraising campaign, which directs millions of dollars to local food banks each year and supports Food Banks Canada’s national mission. Walmart is also one of the founding partners of our Retail Food Program, which provides an ongoing stream of nutritious food donations from local stores and distribution centres. So far, through these programs and others, Walmart Canada has helped to bring the equivalent of over 200 million meals to our neighbours in need!
Barrie Food Bank in Ontario partnered with its local Walmart store for the 2024 Fight Hunger. Spark Change campaign.
Volunteers from Lineage attend Food Banks Canada’s After the Bell packing day event.
Foundation Partner of the Year
As the last line of defense against hunger, food banks should be accessible to each and every person who needs them. Yet, our research shows that there are millions of people in Canada facing barriers to access, such as a lack of transportation, opening hours that aren’t compatible with their work schedules, or even stigma and shame.
With financial support from the Rossy Foundation, Food Banks Canada’s Access Grants empower food banks to break down barriers and increase access for all. The Rossy Foundation also supports our Capacity Boost grants, Northern Capacity Grants and Standards of Excellence Grants, all of which help food banks and community organizations to expand or upgrade their reach, infrastructure and services. These investments in Food Banks Canada’s programs help equip food banks to meet the needs of both today and tomorrow.
Growth Partner of the Year
7-Eleven Canada has been a dedicated partner to Food Banks Canada since 2013. Customers look forward to the annual Slurpee Name Your Price Day, during which they can pay any amount for a large Slurpee, with all proceeds supporting Food Banks Canada.
This past year, 7-Eleven Canada more than doubled its significant annual donations with a round-up program, asking customers to support the food bank network by rounding-up their purchase amount in support of Food Banks Canada. We also appreciate their collaboration with their vendors, adding to their support and expanding our partnership year over year.
Two hundred and seventy-five golfers participated in Maple Lodge Farms’ 2024 Tournament of Dreams
New Partner of the Year
We are delighted to welcome Maple Lodge Farms as Food Banks Canada’s new partner of the year. They’ve been enthusiastic and flexible, open to exploring new ideas to step up for our communities. Food Banks Canada was proud to be chosen as the primary beneficiary of Maple Lodge Farms’s 2024 Tournament of Dreams golf fundraiser. In addition to $200,000 in proceeds, Maple Lodge Farms also donates their chicken product to food banks to support families and communities in need. These quality protein foods are extremely valuable to food banks, which aim to offer well-rounded nutrition to their clients.
“Our partners enable every aspect of our work at Food Banks Canada,” says CEO Kirstin Beardsley. “It’s because of them that we can get high-quality food to hungry people, build the capacity of food banks to meet more needs, and address the root causes of food insecurity.”
“The partners we’re celebrating with the 2024 Food Banks Canada Awards have gone above and beyond, demonstrating outstanding commitment to tackling hunger in Canada,” Beardsley continues. “We’re so grateful for their support, and we’re eager to continuing to work with them to achieve our shared goals, while setting these goals higher with each passing year.”
Read more about the Partner Awards here: https://foodbankscanada.ca/how-to-help/partner-awards/
