Local seniors and a few dignitaries got a free lunch last week thanks to the Chicken Farmers of Ontario (CFO).
The CFO and area chicken farmers offered the free lunch in partnership with the Amherstburg Food Bank, the latter of which operates under the umbrella of Amherstburg Community Services (ACS). The donation of chicken was made by the CFO through its “CFO Cares: Farmers to Food Banks” program and was offered last Thursday at ACS’ “Feast with Friends” congregate luncheon.
Essex MP Chris Lewis thanked the volunteers for making the luncheon as well as the other ACS programming happen. According to Lewis, two million people across Canada visit food banks per month and that will grow to three million people per month next year.
Lewis thanked the CFO for “putting food in the mouths of seniors, little ones and everyone in between.” He added while governments can do a lot, people working in grassroots efforts can do a lot too.
“It fills my heart with a lot of joy knowing people care,” Lewis stated.
Essex MPP Anthony Leardi also thanked the CFO as well as the more than 1,300 family-run chicken farms in Ontario “for continuing to provide Ontario with some of the most delicious and nutritious food, in one of the safest food supply chains in the world.”
“The Government of Ontario is pleased to continue supporting our chicken farmers through supply management and risk management programs,” Leardi stated. “We are also pleased to support community organizations such as Amherstburg Community Services, who provide food to people in need.
Regulations that were passed years ago should not have applied to charitable organizations such as Amherstburg Community Services. In 2020, our government changed those regulations, making it easier for community organizations to provide food to people in need.”
Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy thanked the CFO for its donation and also had thanks for volunteers for their work to feed people and aid them in other ways. She said the volunteers are assisting to provide food security to people and ensuring they are getting fed.
Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue thanked the CFO for not only what it did for Amherstburg residents, but for people across the province.
“It is a momentous task that everyone does to feed us all,” said Prue.
Prue, wearing a chicken-themed tie given to him by the CFO when he was a member of the Ontario Legislature, said the CFO shows “unwavering dedication” in this area and around Ontario.
“Since May 2022, Windsor-Essex County have been the direct beneficiaries of over 32,400 meals to local food banks,” he said.
Brian Lewis, a CFO board director for District 3, noted the CFO Cares: Farmers to Food Banks program has given over one million meals per year to local food banks since 2015.
“It’s been a very successful program, a wonderful program,” he said. “We like to do what we can. It’s farmers giving back. It’s nice when farmers do that.”
Brian Lewis added proteins, like chicken, are among the most needed items at area food banks “and we want to ensure that Ontario communities and food banks have a steady supply of safe, healthy, locally grown chicken.” He added the CFO was “thrilled” to provide the lunch at the “Feast with Friends” senior lunch.
ACS executive director Kathy DiBartolomeo said they try to put chicken in food baskets as often as they can for people, noting monetary donations often help with that. She said ACS offers over 25 services out of their offices at 320 Richmond St., with the food bank being one of them as of 2020. She added they also offer Meals on Wheels and the congregate dining meals for seniors.
The CFO also announced last Thursday that they had made a donation of nearly 1,800 kilograms of chicken throughout 2024 to the UHC – Hub of Opportunities. That donation, also through the CFO Cares: Farmers to Food Banks program, will help provide over 16,000 meals for families and individuals.
Chicken Farmers of Ontario delivers free lunch to local seniors
By Ron Giofu
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