FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Food for Life Expands Capacity and Accessibility completing a 5-year Collaborative Social Impact Loan from Two Local Community Foundations
[Hamilton & Halton, Ontario] Thursday, February 27, 2025 – Food for Life is thrilled to announce the successful completion of a five-year social impact loan, made possible through generous support from Hamilton Community Foundation and the Oakville Community Foundation. This strategic investment has been instrumental in expanding capacity and increasing accessibility, positioning the organization for long-term success in addressing food insecurity across Halton and Hamilton.
Now supporting over 100 programs with food assistance, the improvements arrived at crucial time as Food for Life focused on expanding its reach and meeting the growing needs in the community. With the financial backing of these social impact loans, Food for Life has been able to make essential upgrades to infrastructure, including the expansion of fresh and frozen storage capacity and enhancing their food distribution capabilities.
“As the demand for fresh, nutritious food rose over the past 5 years, we were able to scale our operations and provided dignified food support to more neighbours in need,” said Karen Randell, Executive Director of Food for Life.
The investment also allowed Food for Life to make vital upgrades to its Mountainside Market, including the addition of fully accessible washrooms and improved entryways. These changes remove barriers for individuals with mobility challenges and enhance the dignity and comfort of all who rely on our services.
“Accessibility is essential to our mission of ensuring that good, healthy food is available to everyone,” continued Karen Randell. “These upgrades enable us to maintain a low-barrier approach to our programming, advancing our goal of ensuring access to fresh food and essential resources.”
This initiative highlights the power of a collaborative approach to funding, where organizations and foundations come together to invest in long-term, sustainable solutions for the community. By pooling resources and working toward a shared vision, we can make a lasting impact and build stronger, more inclusive communities for all.
“Grantmaking isn’t the only way we can better our communities. When we use tools like impact investments, we’re investing in a solution to a social problem,” said Ameeta Vijay, Chair, Impact Investment Committee, Oakville Community Foundation. “Impact investments enable organizations like Food for Life to make marked improvements in their operations and better support the community.”
Food for Life extends its deepest gratitude to Hamilton Community Foundation and The Oakville Community Foundation for their belief in our mission and their financial commitment to making these upgrades a reality. Their investment not only strengthens our physical space but also deepens our ability to foster a more inclusive and supportive community.
“Impact investing allows us to put more of our assets to work,” says Yulena Wan, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Hamilton Community Foundation. “This investment in Food for Life is an investment in community.”
About Food for Life Operating the region’s largest food rescue hub, Food for Life rescues and redistributes over 4.6 million lbs of nutritious food, bridging the gap between food excess and hunger for nearly 30 years. Serving Halton and Hamilton regions, the organization partners with local farms, grocery stores, and businesses to provide fresh, nutritious food to those in need. Their mission: Rescuing Food, Impacting Lives.
About Hamilton Community Foundation. Hamilton Community Foundation has been working to drive positive change in Hamilton for over 70 years. We do this by helping people give in a way that has impact in the community, providing grants and financing to charitable organizations and initiatives and bringing people together to address priority issues that affect Hamiltonians. Last year, HCF gave 959 grants to 401 charities totaling $11.9 million. Our assets include $22.1 million in loans to local charities that generate both a financial and a social and/or environmental return.
About Oakville Community Foundation. The Oakville Community Foundation is Oakville’s largest community of philanthropists with 400 Funds. The Foundation acts as a philanthropic medium, investing donations to generate new money for our community. We conduct local research to provide our diverse donors with knowledge and solutions to make an impact in the local community, both today and in the future. Thanks to the visionaries in our community who started The Foundation 30 years ago, The Foundation has granted more than $69 million to support charities locally and beyond.
Media Contact
Karen Randell
Executive Director, Food for Life
W 905.635.1106 Ext223
289.684.8467
Karen@FoodForLife.ca
