Providing vital support amid rising food insecurity

In 2024, the City of Mississauga declared food insecurity an emergency. Food Banks Mississauga is on the front lines of addressing this issue, serving one in 13 city residents and over nine million meals throughout their network annually.

When the Mississauga Greater Purpose Committee ran a poll to identify causes our colleagues were passionate about, food insecurity emerged as a key area of interest, leading the Committee to reach out to Food Banks Mississauga. 

Patrick Carson, Assurance Partner and Greater Purpose Committee member, says, "We want to support the causes that resonate most with our people. By reaching out to Food Banks Mississauga, we were able to not only support them financially with a $15,000 donation, we also set up volunteer shifts."

This hands-on experience allowed colleagues to see first-hand the food bank’s impact and provided a tangible way to contribute.

The call for volunteers was open to local colleagues, including those in our nearby Georgetown and Oakville offices. The eight available shifts were enthusiastically attended. Patrick says, "We didn’t anticipate how much fun volunteering can be and what a great team-building activity it is, all while giving back in a meaningful way." 

Patrick praised the professionalism and organization of Food Banks Mississauga, recounting a highly effective exercise they conducted to help volunteers understand the challenges faced by individuals relying on their services. This exercise involved allocating tokens to various essential categories including food, shelter, transportation, and more. "You quickly realize that it doesn’t get you far," he says, "and the difficult choices people must make due to limited resources." 

As the need for food bank services continues to rise, with a 55% increase in Mississauga from last year, Patrick sees a continued role for the Foundation’s Greater Purpose Committees.