Purolator will this week launch the second annual Purolator Tackle Hunger National Red Bag campaign in support of food banks across Canada.
Started in 2023, the National Red Bag campaign sees Purolator volunteers deliver branded red bags to people’s doorsteps, before collecting them a week later and delivering donated goods to the local food bank.
This year’s campaign will take place in 15 communities, with more than 50,000 bags being distributed across Canada. Bags will be distributed to people’s doorsteps starting Saturday, September 14.
Residents can fill their bags with non-perishable items and leave on their doorsteps the following Saturday (dates for each location listed below). Purolator volunteers will then pick up the bags, filled with food, and deliver them to a local food bank.
"The Purolator Tackle Hunger National Red Bag campaign enables our team, customers, and Canadians to deliver meaningful support to the communities where they live and work,” said John Ferguson, President and CEO, Purolator. “As an employee-led initiative, we’re incredibly proud of our team members who have made the commitment to tackling food insecurity across Canada.”
“At Food Banks Canada, our mission is to relieve hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow because we believe that our neighbours, friends and family should not experience food insecurity. However, even in our affluent country, there were almost 2 million visits to food banks in one month alone,” said Kirstin Beardsley, Chief Executive Officer Food Banks Canada. “As this need continues to grow, we are so grateful for the support of partners like Purolator. By committing to help the problem of hunger through the National Red Bag campaign and providing financial support and in-kind shipping support to Food Banks Canada, you are helping us work towards our vision of a Canada where no one goes hungry.”
The 2024 Purolator Tackle Hunger National Red Bag campaign will take place in the following communities:
Barrhaven, Ont. – Drop off September 21, pick up October 5
Barrie and Springwater, Ont. - Drop off September 14, pick up September 21
Beamsville, Ont. – Drop off September 14, pick up September 21
Dieppe, N.B. – Drop off September 14, pick up September 21
Dundas, Ont. – Drop off September 14, pick up September 21
Edmonton – Drop off September 21, pick up September 28
Greater Toronto Area – Drop off September 14, pick up September 21
Maple Ridge, B.C. – Drop off September 21, pick up September 28
Milton, Ont. – Drop off September 14, pick up September 21
Montreal – Drop off September 12, pick up September 21
North Bay, Ont. – Drop off September 21, pick up September 28
Ottawa – Drop off September 14, pick up September 21
Stratford, Ont. – Drop off September 14, pick up September 21
Victoriaville – Drop off September 14, pick up September 21
How Canadians can help tackle hunger
Online and in-person donations to Food Banks Canada
Donations can be made online at purolatortacklehunger.com and at any Purolator Shipping Centre across Canada. Individuals can find a store near them by using the Purolator Locator tool on purolator.com.
About Purolator Tackle Hunger®
As part of Purolator’s commitment to helping alleviate hunger in the communities where it operates, the organization works closely with its employees, partners, customers, Canadian food banks and charitable organizations to collect food and monetary donations. Together, we also help raise awareness about the issue of food insecurity. Since the inception of Purolator’s employee-led grassroots program over 20 years ago, Purolator Tackle Hunger® has helped deliver more than 22 million pounds of food to Canadian food banks. For more information, visit purolatortacklehunger.com.
About Food Banks Canada
Food Banks Canada provides national leadership to relieve hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow in collaboration with the food bank network from coast to coast to coast. For 40 years, food banks have been dedicated to helping people living with food insecurity. Over 5,100 food banks and community organizations come together to serve our most vulnerable neighbours who this year made 1.9 million visits to these organizations in one month alone, according to our HungerCount report. Over the past 10 years, as a system we’ve sourced and shared over 1.4 billion pounds of food and Food Banks Canada shared nearly $168 million in funding to help maximize collective impact and strengthen local capacity – while advocating for reducing the need for food banks. Our vision is clear: create a Canada where no one goes hungry. Visit http://www.foodbankscanada.ca/ to learn more.
