Fifty-two trucking industry volunteers from the Trucks for Change (T4C) network gathered on May 15th to help package food for children in need during the annual After-the-Bell event organized by Food Banks Canada.

The goal was to assemble 200,000 food packs to support kids during the eight weeks of summer, when school-based meal programs aren’t available.

Each child in the program will receive one weekly package containing items like milk, hummus, crackers, cereal, oatmeal, and more. T4C carriers not only helped pack the food at the International Centre in Mississauga, Ont., they also provided certified lift truck services from May 13th to 15th to prepare goods for shipping. Three fleets spared an operator – one for each day – to help stage incoming donations and load outgoing pallets into trailers.

As an official program partner, T4C also helps coordinate the deliveries of those pallets.

Several network carriers have already delivered larger shipments to seven food banks. At the end of May, at least 25 more fleets moved smaller shipments to another 87 locations in Eastern Canada, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories.

Founded in 2011, T4C is a non-profit organization that partners carriers with charities to facilitate deliveries of donated goods across Canada. The fleets leverage available truck and trailer space to transport food, clothing, mobility aids, books, and other essentials.