Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada partnered with Food Banks Canada, along with other local food banks within the country, as part of its Driving Healthy Change campaign that will see dealers collect food and make donations in local communities.
In a news release, MMSCAN said data from Food Banks Canada reveals that since 2019 there has been a 35 per cent increase in food bank traffic across the country. They also note that one in four people said they ate less than they would have liked as they did not have enough money to buy more food.
“We continue to see stories in the news about food insecurity and the rising cost of groceries,” said MMSCAN President and CEO Kenji Harada in a statement. “Together with our dealer partners, we are committed to supporting the communities around us that we live and work in.”
As part of the 2023 campaign, participating dealers will collect donations of food and funds from Sept. 18-30. MMSCAN said these dealers have taken on a range of initiatives, including hosting food drives at their local grocery stores and donating money for each vehicle sold during the campaign period. The funds will be sent to local food banks between Oct. 2-6, ahead of the Thanksgiving weekend.
“As the cost of living continues to rise, we must look out for our most vulnerable neighbours,” said Erin Filey-Wronecki, Chief Development and Partnerships Officer of Food Banks Canada, in a statement. He added that such organizations are “moving into uncharted territory, with food bank usage increasing at rates not observed since the aftermath of the 2008 recession.”
The total amounts collected during the campaign will be announced on Oct. 16, which is also World Food Day.
