Local restaurants partner with KFL&A charity to help feed hungry students

This month, over 20 local restaurants and three local hotels are asking patrons if they’d “Care 2 Share?” and consider making a donation to the Food Sharing Project.

According to a release from the Food Sharing Project, a local 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 local 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 sources healthy food, including fresh fruits and vegetables, that are delivered to schools at no cost. According to the organization, volunteers pack 450 boxes, or five tons, of food every week that is delivered to all 88 schools in Kingston, Frontenac, and Lennox & Addington – a value that exceeds $25,000 each and every week of the 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, Board Chair for The Food Sharing Project.

“Students will do better at school when they don’t have to worry about being hungry,” continued 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.”

According to the release, the Food Sharing Project reached out to local restaurants to see if they would promote a fundraising campaign. As March is recognized as Nutrition Month across Canada, it made sense to align the restaurant-based campaign with the month of March, the organization said.

“We are happy to help raise awareness and funds for The Food Sharing Project,” expressed 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.”

Moore explained how those in Kingston’s well-known and much-loved culinary and accommodation sector are integral in the campaign.

“Our food service and hospitality community in Kingston and area is so generous in so many ways,” she 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.”

Patrons at participating restaurants and hotels can simply scan the available QR codes on their smartphones to be shown further information and given the option to donation. The Care 2 Share? campaign launched this week, and runs until the end of March, at the following restaurants (and other businesses):

• Aquaterra
• Atomica Kitchen & Cocktails
• Black Dog Tavern
• Bread and Butter Bakery
• Card’s Bakery
• Copper Penny
• Chez Piggy
• Dianne’s Fish Shack and Smokehouse
• Diamond Hotels (Delta Hotel, Quality Inn & Conference Centre, and Holiday Inn Express)
• Harper’s Burger Bar
• Hydrathletics
• Muddy Waters (Verona)
• Pan Chancho Bakery & Café
• Paradiso Pizza (Division Street and Inverary locations)
• Pasta Genova
• Red House
• Riverhead Brewing Company
• Skeleton Park Brewery
• Tango Nuevo
• The Elm Café
• The Greek Islands
• The Grocery Basket
• The Toucan
• Toast & Jam Café
• Whiskey & Rosé

“We are happy to add more restaurants to the list, so please reach out to us to support this much needed fundraiser,” Moore said. The Food Sharing Project can be reached at 613-530-3514, or via email at [email protected].

To learn more about The Food Sharing Project, visit: www.foodsharingproject.org