Trucks for Change (T4C) Network coordinates deliveries of bottled water donations for Project FoodChain, its charity partner that coordinates programs to support the unhoused population in Toronto and the surrounding areas, to help the unhoused population during the hot months.

BlueTriton Brands Canada donated the water and the pallets were collected from its facility near Guelph, Ont., and trucked by T4C carriers to a central distribution point in Mississauga, Ont.

From there, Atripco Delivery Services uses smaller vehicles that can get into tight locations to deliver to local organizations, ensuring bottled water is given directly to the people who need it, the organization said in a news release.

This is the fourth summer that T4C has coordinated water distribution to service organizations. This year, Kriska Transportation, Thomson Terminals, Brian Kurtz Trucking, and GX Transportation Solutions are the fleets carrying water to the distribution center. Water deliveries will continue through July, so service groups will have stock on hand as they need it throughout the summer.

“The summer, with increasingly hot temperatures forecasted for this year, is especially difficult for people living outside or housed infrequently,” said Betsy Sharples, executive director of Trucks for Change Network, in a release. “We’re proud to support Project FoodChain, which coordinates with churches, food banks, and community services to ensure that water and other essential products get to the people who need it most.”

Kate Hanley, the co-founder of Project FoodChain, added that in the extreme heat, the availability of water can save unhoused residents from death. “Our partnership with the Trucks for Change Network is critical in ensuring we can get water delivered to those who don’t have access to this essential need.”

Since 2021, T4C carriers have delivered 505 pallets of bottled water, which is more than 43,750 cases, totaling 1.258 million pounds.