McCain Foods will distribute 20 million pounds of potatoes to help combat food insecurity global pandemic (CNW Group/McCain Foods)

By Justin Goulet

McCain Foods donates 20 million pounds of potatoes to combat food insecurity

Apr 10, 2020 | 5:30 AM

FLORENCEVILLE-BRISTOL, NEW BRUNSWICK – McCain Foods has announced a donation to help out Food Banks Canada, Second Harvest and other local food security organizations across the country.

The company has announced they’re donating 20-million pounds of potato products to the various organizations. They stated that the commitment represents 60-million servings of potatoes that will be provided to Canadian communities that are struggling with food insecurity during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

“Over recent weeks the Canadian Food system has been stretched by the impacts of COVID-19. It has left many of our most vulnerable neighbours struggling for access to food,” read a release.

“This donation by McCain Foods will help provide access to additional food sources to those in need.”

McCain Foods is also engaging its subsidiary Day & Ross, one of Canada’s largest transportation companies, to help get the donations to those in need as soon as possible. The release stated that even before the health crisis, more than one-million visits were made to food banks across Canada each month, according to Food Banks Canada’s HungerCount report.

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“Because of COVID-19, many local food drives typically held this time of year are cancelled. McCain Food’s significant donation will help replenish the inventory at a time when food donations have drastically decreased,” said Chris Hatch, CEO, Food Banks Canada, in the release.

Second Harvest, meanwhile, is Canada’s largest food rescue charity that has been dedicated to environmental protection and hunger relief.

“Ensuring all Canadians have access to nutritious, fresh food during this crisis is a collective effort, and we are proud to be working with McCain Foods to tackle this issue together,” stated Lori Nikkel, CEO of Second Harvest.

“Our mission is that no one gets left behind, and this generous donation will help us fulfill that mission by directly feeding those hardest hit by this pandemic.”

McCain’s most recent announcement comes in addition to about $1.3 million in donations from the McCain Foundation made last week to provide support to food banks, shelters, community kitchens and school programs in New Brunswick, Manitoba and in Alberta.

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