Kingston, Ont.’s Food Sharing Project partners with 20 area-restaurants

A Kingston-area group is getting some much-needed support.

A group of over 20 local restaurants and three hotels are encouraging their customers to consider making a donation to The Food Sharing Project, a Kingston charity that provides nutritious food to school meal programs.

Partner restaurants are placing “Care 2 Share?” donation cards on their tables or counters that include information about the need and a QR code to make a donation.

“The demand for food in schools has risen dramatically over the past few years,” said Andy Mills, executive director of The Food Sharing Project. “Along with increasing food prices, we will spend almost $200,000 more this year, to provide schools with the food they need for breakfast, lunch and snack programs.”

The Food Sharing Project says it sources healthy food, including fresh fruits and vegetables, that are delivered to schools at no cost.

The organization says volunteers pack 450 boxes, or five tons, of food every week that is delivered to all 88 schools in Kingston, Frontenac, and Lennox and Addington. The value of which exceeds $25,000 per school year. Schools use this food to provide healthy meals and snacks for any student who needs nutrition, no questions asked.

“School coordinators are telling us that the kids are so hungry. There are so many families working hard to make ends meet and the skyrocketing prices at the grocery store are making that very challenging. We needed to come up with a fundraiser to make sure we are able to support students through to the end of the school year,” said Brenda Moore, chair of the board of The Food Sharing Project.

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“Students will do better at school when they don’t have to worry about being hungry,” said Moore, a retired principal. “I’ve heard students say the food at school is the best food they have all day. A graduating student told us that he would’ve had to quit school and get a job to help his family if it wasn’t for the healthy food at school for him and his siblings.”

The Food Sharing Project reached out to local restaurants to see if they would promote a fundraising campaign.

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“We are happy to help raise awareness and funds for The Food Sharing Project,” said Zoe Yanovsky, owner of Chez Piggy and Pan Chancho. “The tabletop cards give our customers a chance to learn about the need and make a donation at their discretion. It’s a great opportunity for the community to support kids across KFL&A.”

“Our food service and hospitality community in Kingston and area is so generous in so many ways,” Moore said. “We didn’t want to ask owners or staff to take on a lot of work for this campaign. The tabletop cards are just
there, and guests can read them and choose to scan the QR code to make a donation.”