Food Industry Responds to Covid 19

Food processors and retailers are all taking action to help combat the spread of Covid 19 and support those on the frontlines like healthcare workers. Here are just a few examples:

Flow Alkaline Spring Water, for example, is responding to the recent increase in demand for water, due to COVID, by donating $1 million worth of Flow to frontline healthcare workers.

Here’s how Flow’s doing it:

• Flow has a goal of donating a total of $1 million worth of Flow water to frontline healthcare workers across North America.
• With its confidence in source, supply chain, and availability, Flow is ready to support the urgent increase in water demand during COVID-19
• Every case purchased, helps make this possible; Flow will match and donate product to organizations that are supporting frontline healthcare workers in North America
• Flow is working with Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto and SickKids Hospital to prepare issuing donations to hospitals across Canada.

Flow is dedicated to supporting the environment by producing natural spring water in sustainable packaging, but its dedication extends to more than that. By donating $1 million worth of Flow water across North America, healthcare workers can focus on what’s important without needing to worry about basic needs. 

Mondelēz Canada is donating over $1 million worth of financial and in-kind support to frontline healthcare workers and community partners advancing emergency relief and critical food stability efforts.This includes support for Food Banks Canada, Moisson Montréal, Second Harvest, The Good Shepherd and Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada. 

“Mondelēz Canada has an important role to play in supporting those on the frontlines of this crisis and in helping the communities and populations hit hardest by COVID-19. We are committing over $1 million in cash and in-kind donations, that includes a thank you to frontline health care workers in the GTA and support to further the impactful work of local community partners across Canada who are providing food security and assistance to the people who need it most.” said Martin Parent, President, Mondelēz Canada.

“Communities from coast to coast rely on Boys and Girls Clubs in times of crisis,” said Owen Charters, President and CEO, Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada. “We thank Mondelēz Canada for this donation that will help our members across the country rally to support our neighbours in need.”

Mondelēz Canada will continue to monitor the rapidly changing situation and provide further updates as appropriate. This support is part of the global Mondelēz International commitment to donate $15 million, in cash and in-kind donations, to community partners.

DOLE Foods of Canada Company is thanking all of the brave front-line healthcare workers dedicating themselves to the wellbeing of Canadians during these unprecedented times. In an effort to bring a bit of sunshine into the days of these heroes Dole is donating over 90,000 fruit bowls and pineapple juices to help fuel the front lines. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic healthcare workers across the country have put the welfare and safety of others above their own and Dole is expressing their sincerest gratitude.

Nestlé Canada will donate over $2 million in food donations to Food Banks Canada to help feed families and communities impacted by COVID-19.

“These are extraordinary times and now, more than ever, our communities need our support. It is extremely important to us at Nestlé Canada that we do everything we can to help those in need and we are pleased to support our long-time charitable partners, through both financial means and product donations,” said Jeff Hamilton, President and CEO of Nestlé Canada. “Our contributions also include donations from our generous employees who have passionately rallied around a corporate matching program that we’ve just concluded.”

Food banks across Canada have been severely impacted by COVID-19 and with increased demand for support from millions of vulnerable families, the need for support and resources continues to intensify. Nestlé Canada has quickly mobilized to provide much-needed financial support and product donations including bottled water, baby/infant food, confections and pet food to support local shelters.

“While food insecurity is an issue year-round in Canada, COVID-19 has led to significant challenges,” said Chris Hatch, Chief Executive Officer for Food Banks Canada. “We are thankful for the generosity of our corporate partners, like Nestlé Canada, for their donation of funds and food products which will provide food banks with more of the resources they need to ensure that the most vulnerable people in Canada are not left behind.”

In addition, as part of a larger global initiative with the International Federation of the Red Cross organization, Nestlé Canada is also donating $150,000 to the Canadian Red Cross to support its response to COVID-19. These initiatives include:

• Distribution of emergency supplies such as cots, blankets and hygiene kits as requested by local authorities, in response to COVID-19 as well as future emergencies including floods and wildfires;
• Support for Red Cross personnel providing comfort and care for Canadians; and
• Support with call centres to help people through the uncertainty by providing well-being support, key information, and referrals to available community services.

As a Founding Partner of Kids Help Phone, Nestlé Canada has also increased financial support to enhance the charity’s capabilities to respond to the increased volume of calls, texts and emails from vulnerable youth who are experiencing anxiety, isolation and fear with this new, uncertain world. In addition, Nestlé continues to be able to respond to various requests for product from local healthcare and emergency services to support front line workers.

During this crisis, Nestlé Purina PetCare Canada continues to support pets and the people who love them, dedicating resources to shelters and rescues across the country. To date, Nestlé Purina PetCare Canada has donated more than 100,000 meals to shelter and rescue pets in need to ensure animals waiting for their forever homes are well fed.

Save-On-Foods has committed $500,000 toward their $1 million fundraising goal aimed at giving kids easier access to school meal supports during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 With an estimated one in five school-aged kids in Canada relying on school-based nutrition programs, school closures mean many Canadian kids are unsure where their next meal will come from. Schools and community groups throughout Western Canada are working with parents to ensure vulnerable kids get the support they need, and Save-On-Foods and its partners are stepping up to help.

 Over the last three years, by participating in The Grocery Foundation’s Toonies for Tummies program, Save-On-Foods and its customers have made donations which have enabled over 250,000 meals to kids at school made possible through programs delivered by Breakfast Club of Canada.

 Now, customers can donate $2 or 500 More Rewards points at the till of any Save-On-Foods, PriceSmart Foods or Urban Fare locations store, and the company will match up to a total of $500,000. Donations can be made in-store, or online through Breakfast Club of Canada, Backpack Buddies or I Can for Kids digital platforms.

 Funds raised will be donated to Breakfast Club of Canada (the Club), which helps feed more than 243,500 children and youth in 1,809 schools across the country each year. The Club will in turn distribute funding and support to schools, community organizations, and other partners mobilized to get food supports to these kids as quickly and efficiently as possible.

 All money raised locally stays local—that means each community will be helping kids right in their local areas. 

“As we ramp up efforts to support an increasing number of Canadian families facing food insecurity, this generous commitment to raise $1 million is a timely blessing,” said Breakfast Club of Canada President & Founder, Daniel Germain. “We are grateful for the continued support from Save-On-Foods, and we look forward to supporting their efforts to accelerate true community partnerships to solve this problem. We are proud that we have been entrusted with ensuring these funds and resources are put to their best and highest use.”

To support this work, and in response to requests for guidance, programming support, donations and food from a growing number of schools and grassroots community partners, Save-On-Foods has mobilized the talent of partner organizations known for their skills and well-established best practices in delivering these services in British Columbia year-round. From procurement to program delivery to logistics, the team has assembled quickly to assist in accelerating the delivery of a sustainable solution.

In addition to Breakfast Club of Canada, partners in this coordination effort include Food Banks BC, Backpack Buddies, I Can for Kids in Calgary, BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation, The Grocery Foundation, and Food Mesh.

“We know that kids need nutritious meals and we are absolutely committed to helping these organizations continue their critical mission despite school closures. The work our community partners do to feed young Canadians is so important,” said Save-On-Foods President Darrell Jones. “We are grateful to Breakfast Club of Canada and our other partners who have joined forces with us to support our schools and students. I know our customers share our commitment to our communities and will blow us away with their generosity.”