THUNDER BAY - A grassroots organization ensuring everyone throughout the community and region has access to nutritious and fresh food during lockdowns as part of the ongoing pandemic received a helping hand from a collaborative partnership with the mining sector.
Roots to Harvest received an $80,000 donation from various resource-based companies with operations throughout the northwest.
The companies include Impala Canada, Barrick Gold and Newmont Canada, New Gold, Clean Air Metals, Noront Resources, Intercity Industrial Supply, Belterra Corporation, Superior Propane, Lakehead Ironworks, and ITEC 2000 Equipment & Hydraulics.
Erin Beagle, executive director with Roots to Harvest, said a gift like this is unprecedented for the organization.
“We have not seen a gift like this before in such a collaborative way from a sector that has such a presence in this community,” she said.
“This gift goes so far. It supports thousands of individuals and supports other organizations. Roots to Harvest works with dozens of other organizations in our community and our region to make sure quality food that is nourishing and done in a dignified way for everybody.”
The money will be used to allow Roots to Harvest to purchase higher cost items, such as meat and dairy to be included in their food bags.
Beagle said the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the inequalities in the region and there has been a dramatic increase for more food support for people throughout Northwestern Ontario.
“Nothing has prepared Roots to Harvest or all of these communities for what COVID has brought for us,” she said. “It has required a lot of people to just say yes and move forward with the tasks ahead of us.”
“The need for consistent, healthy and accessible food is paramount and this collective donation from the mining industry will positively impact thousands of those hardest hit by the pandemic - families with children, seniors and Elders, people with lack of housing, refugees and women living in precarious situations.”
Adam Foulstone, general manager with Barrick Hemlo, said Roots to Harvest has done an amazing job in helping those in need during the increased demand for food.
“What the industry can do for the wider communities is impressive and this is a demonstration of what we can do together,” he said. “We know what it does do for the communities and it’s just during these times we need to work together to come out more stronger and that the relationship between the mining and the communities is strengthened.”
Don Burke, general manager of Newmont Musselwhite Mine, added that despite the struggles brought on by the pandemic, it is also bringing more organizations together to work collaborative to address inequalities.
“We start thinking about the pandemic and if there is anything I’ve learned through this pandemic is together we are stronger,” he said. “The value is when we work together and support one another. Fortunately we are in a position where we can help support.”
“When Thunder Bay recently experienced its most devastating phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw that the issue of access to healthy food intensified," added Bryan Wilson, general manager of Lac des Iles Mine.
"We immediately wanted to help accelerate the vital work of Roots to Harvest and their unwavering efforts to deliver nutritious food items to communities most impacted. We are humbled to be joined by our industry peers in the region as we come together with Roots to Harvest to help address the root causes of food insecurity.”
Beagle added a donation of this size will allow the organization to continue to help people across the region on an ongoing basis.
“The ability to let us partner and come up with innovative solutions with a gift this size, I don’t know that we can totally track the impact of that immediately,” she said. “I think you will see this in the long run. I’m excited to share what this does.”