Chicken Farmers of Ontario chose the annual meeting to present a $10,000 cheque to Feed Ontario, an organization representing more than 1,200 foodbanks.
Last year the marketing board and about 500 farmers contributed enough to provide more than one million meals for needy people.
The board also made a $100,000 special donation to Feed Ontario’s fall Fill the Shelves campaign.
Andrea Veldhuisen, who is the chicken board’s point person on the program, thanked farmers for their support and urged them to continue to donate and turn out for community events this year.
She said it’s an eye-opening experience to visit community foodbank facilities.
Carolyn Stewart-Stockwell, chief executive officer for Feed Ontario, said there was a 36 per cent surge in demand last year when more than 800,000 people picked up food. There was a 62 per cent increase in first-time visitors. She said demand is projected to continue increasing this year.
“You’re truly making a difference” for struggling families, she said in thanking donors.
The support the chicken farmers have given is “nothing short of incredible,” she said.
