OC Transpo/Loblaw food drive another success in support of the Ottawa Food Bank
The OC Transpo/Loblaw food drive is the longest running food drive in Ottawa and has been supporting the Ottawa Food Bank since it began operating in 1984. The 39th annual food drive was held on Saturday, December 9th, and raised over 66,300 pounds of food and more than $32,000 for the Ottawa Food Bank and Ottawa region food banks.
"Food insecurity in Ottawa is at an unprecedented level,” said City of Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe. “It is heartwarming to see Team Ottawa and City of Ottawa staff support and donate in times of such great need. Thank you to all the volunteers and donors, and to OC Transpo and our partners at Loblaw Companies Limited and the Ottawa Food Bank who work hard each year to make this event a huge success."
OC Transpo buses were parked onsite at participating Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore, Your Independent Grocer and No Frills locations in Ottawa to remind residents of the opportunity to donate non-perishable items. All the food items collected were delivered directly to the Ottawa Food Bank, Stittsville Food Bank, Barrhaven Food Cupboard, and the Kanata Food Cupboard.
"Amidst unprecedented food insecurity, the 39th annual OC Transpo/Loblaw Food Drive brought our community together,” said Rachael Wilson, CEO, Ottawa Food Bank. “A huge thank you to Ottawa residents, the dedicated volunteers, and valued partners like OC Transpo and Loblaw Companies Limited. Your support will ensure thousands of families and individuals will have access to the food they need this holiday season and beyond."
The in-person food drive may be over, but residents can still make donations online at ottawafoodbank.com/octranspo.
Quick Facts:
The OC Transpo/Loblaw Christmas Food Drive is Ottawa's largest annual single-day grocery store food drive.
To date, this food drive has raised over three million pounds of food and thousands of dollars for Ottawa's most vulnerable residents.
OC Transpo is proud to have been associated with the Ottawa Food Bank since its first year of existence. OC Transpo's first food drive was in 1984, the same year the Ottawa Food Bank was founded. It is the longest running food drive in Ottawa.
In a normal year, the Ottawa Food Bank distributes 14 tons of food every day. This provides over 100 member agencies with supplies to feed our neighbours in need, one-third of whom are children.
The food drive collects for four local food banks: the Ottawa Food Bank, the Stittsville Food Bank, the Barrhaven Food Cupboard and the Kanata Food Cupboard.
The Ottawa Food Bank has reported more visits to food banks within the network of 112 member agencies in the past year than it has any other year in its 39-year history.
About Ottawa Food Bank
The Ottawa Food Bank is the main emergency food provider in the National Capital Region, which works in partnership with a network of 112 community food programs to provide food and supplies for those in need. For more information regarding the Ottawa Food Bank and how you can help provide healthy, accessible, sustainable food for all, please visit https://www.ottawafoodbank.ca/.
For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.