The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted society, putting millions out of work, into financial stress, and provoked a spike in national food insecurity.
Determined to help alleviate hunger in Canada and give back to its community, Kia Canada is deploying vehicles and much-needed funds through the #PowerToGive, a national partnership with Food Banks Canada.
“We’ve moved Canadians with safety and confidence for more than 20 years,” says Elias El-Achhab, Chief Operating Officer at Kia Canada Inc. “And our #PowerToGive partnership with Food Banks Canada and its 3,000 food banks and community agencies across the country will help put our team, our resources, and our vehicles to important wor— feeding Canadians in this time of need.”
Kia Canada is lending its press fleet of top-of-the-line new vehicles including the Sportage, Soul and Telluride to Food Banks in Toronto and Vancouver to support their daily work in providing food packs to vulnerable Canadians. Along with a $200,000 kick start donation, Kia Canada is also working with its national network of dealers, helping connect them with their local food banks and agencies to lend additional assistance and support.
The National Leader in Hunger Relief
Food banks across Canada are facing immense demand. “To put things into context, one of our BC food banks typically records visits from 50 households in one week. That number rose to 300 household visits per week since the pandemic began,” says Food Banks Canada CEO, Chris Hatch. “That, coupled with a reduction in volunteers and a significant drop in food donations in some markets, means that we need support to ensure our neighbours are fed,” he says.
“What Kia is doing is another example of Canadians coming together,” says Neil Hetherington, Chief Executive Officer at Toronto’s Daily Bread Food Bank. “Through these very difficult times, we at the Daily Bread have seen time and time again how individuals and corporations have stepped up to the plate to say: we are all in this together!
We are grateful to Kia Canada for providing an uplifting moment, as we navigate these unchartered, anxious times and helping alleviate pressures for our team who are working frontline in service of their communities,” he says.
Visit kia.ca/powertogive to learn more and see our video thanking Canadians for their efforts.