The Cambridge Food Bank just received a massive donation of chicken from local farmers to help combat food insecurity in the city.
The Chicken Farmers of Ontario(CFO) have donated 440 kg of chicken to the food bank that will go on to feed around 4,000 people in the community.
"We are so thankful for organizations like the Chicken Farmers of Ontario for the donation that will go on to feed up to 4,000 people or 2,000 households," said the director of operations for the food bank Amy Slack.
"When we get food like this those who are coming in here for the first time will be able to walk into the emergency food room and see the same food they would get at the store."
The donation of chicken was made through the CFO Cares: Farmers to Food Bank program which allows local farmers to donate any extra chickens they have to help the community.
This year the program will contribute over 1 million meals to food banks across Ontario, including 1,600 kg or 14,000 meals to the Waterloo Region Food Bank.
The chicken comes in packages similar to those found in grocery stores so they can be prepared at home or in meals cooked by the food bank themselves.
"It makes someone's bad day a little bit better," added Slack
Mark Hermann is a local farmer from Cambridge who has been donating chickens to the Cambridge Food Bank for the past five years. He views this as an act of service he needs to make.
"My parents were German immigrants and when they came here they had nothing, so I know how fortunate I am to be in this position now to help others," said Hermann.
The local farmer said with organizations like CFO and the Cambridge Food Bank, he knows that anything he does give will find its way into a good home and truly help someone.
Slack noted food bank use is up three times from pre-pandemic use, but they have been able to respond with increased volunteerism, donations and support from the community.
"When we come together as a community like this and we recognize the greater impact we can all have by just giving a little bit more it really alleviates the stress that we see some new families experience when coming to the food bank for the first time," said Slack.
"It's sad, but 33 per cent of our users are children and youth, so when we get a donation like this, I mean, what kid doesn't like a chicken nugget or fried chicken? It gives that sense of normality."
As demand for the food bank services grows, Slack and her team have been trying to keep up with demand. This donation will certainly help, she said.
