Food Banks & Community Services Support

Once again, in 2025, UFCW Locals 175 & 633 donated $180,000 to food banks and community support organizations across Ontario.

In March 2025, nearly 2.2 million people visited food banks in Canada, surpassing the previous year’s record-high. In fact, the number of people who have visited a food bank in the province has more than doubled in the last six years, according to HungerCount.

“Food banks and charitable groups play a vital role but their efforts are only a temporary solution that cannot address the systemic root causes of food insecurity,” added Tosato. “Without real substantial change, the number of people relying on food bank use and other charities just to survive will continue to grow as more and more people get left behind by a system focused solely on putting profit over people.”

“Our Executive Board members know that our Local Union is in a position to provide this support and I continue to be proud of their commitment to the communities across this province where our members live and work,” said President Tosato. “We also recognize that the vital work these food charities and community groups are doing is only a temporary fix that cannot correct the systemic root causes of food insecurity.”

Starting in 2020, the UFCW Locals 175 & 633 Executive Board has endorsed donations each year going to organizations throughout the province. Among the many services to their communities, the organizations supported with these donations provide: front-line food provision for families and individuals; hot meals for vulnerable community members; assisting with school nutrition programs, and; food distribution and support through other area agencies and charitable initiatives.

In the first year, the Local Union donated a total of $60,000 to 20 organizations. Since then, donations have increased to reach a total of $180,000 each year distributed amongst 60 vital community support centers and food banks in Ontario. Find photos from the 2025 donations, made by our members, Executive Board, and staff, on our Facebook and Instagram pages.