Montreal, QC, June 30, 2015 – Richard Blain, President of Moisson Montréal, announced the results from the 2014-2015 annual report during our annual general meeting at the offices of Moisson Montréal on Wednesday, June 17. In attendance, were members of the board of directors and accredited members, as well as executives and employees of Moisson Montréal.

“This past year at Moisson Montréal reflects our current economic situation, in which the cost of food continues to rise; unfortunately, this just reinforces the fundamental purpose and mission of our organization. Gladly, however, our loyal partners, donors, suppliers, volunteers and employees continue to answer the call to combat food insecurity in Montreal. We thank you for that!” explained Mr. Blain.

“I am very proud of the progress Moisson Montréal has made in 2014-2015. Moisson Montréal had an exceptional year in terms of deploying and implementing our inspiring projects. The Food Recovery Pilot Project with Supermarkets and the Suspended Meals campaign proved their worth and now play a key role in our regular activities. Moisson Montréal strives to innovate and renew in order to develop sustainable solutions to the problems of food insecurity and waste in Montreal,” added Dany Michaud, Executive Director of Moisson Montréal.

Some highlights from 2014-2015:

• 244 community organizations across the Island of Montreal benefited from our services on a regular basis (50 more received occasional assistance);
• According to the 2014 Hunger Count, 140,706 persons, including 38, 345 children (27% of beneficiaries) received food aid each month through partner organizations;
• 12.6 million kilos of foodstuffs and other essential items were distributed, representing a total value of $60.9 million;
• Of 12.6 million kilos of foodstuffs, 293 tons of food, including 116 tons of meat, were recovered thanks to our Food Recovery Program with Supermarkets;
• 293 agrifood businesses donated foodstuffs, including 45 supermarkets;
• 7,828 volunteers put in more than 76,275 hours to help us deliver our mission; their crucial support represents the work of 42 full-time employees.

Thanks to the efforts and engagement of all our partners, Moisson Montréal contributes to reducing the effects of food insecurity and waste every day. A $60 donation helps us feed 22 children for a week, while a $250 donation can feed five families for four weeks.

The complete version of the 2014-2015 annual report is available online at: www.moissonmontreal.org/annual-reports.

About Moisson Montréal

A non-profit organization founded in 1984, Moisson Montréal is today the largest food bank in Canada. Through its centre for collecting, sorting and distributing emergency food assistance, the organization allocates nearly 800 tons of food per month to more than 240 accredited community organizations on the Island of Montreal. In turn, these organizations provide food assistance to 140,000 people, including more than 20,000 children between the ages of 0 and 5. Moisson Montréal receives funding and supplies mainly through donations. Its operations require the collaboration of nearly 8,000 volunteers each year and result in the redistribution of about $61 million worth of groceries annually. For additional information: www.moissonmontreal.org.

Winner of the 2015 Novae Corporate Citizenship Prize in the Supply category for its Food Recovery Program with Supermarkets. www.moissonmontreal.org/news

About the Suspended Meals

On the road since May 1, 2015, the Suspended Meals truck does not sell food; rather, it’s an innovative tool that educates and raises awareness. By purchasing a suspended meal of $10, you are helping a Montrealer in need. Suspended meals can be purchased from the truck or on our website. Coupons for these meals are then transferred to Moisson Montréal’s accredited community organizations, who distribute them to families and persons in need. The coupons can be redeemed for a meal from a food truck member of Montreal’s Association des restaurateurs de rue du Québec (ARRQ). To find our food truck and others, visit: www.montreal.streetfoodquest.com.

About the Food Recovery Program with Supermarkets

This first program of its kind in Canada was developed by Moisson Montréal, in collaboration with all major supermarket chains in Quebec, in order to recover foodstuffs; in particular meat and meat substitutes. Recovered foodstuffs are distributed to select Moisson Montréal accredited organizations, who then process the meats and provide various food aid to individuals suffering from food insecurity. Since October 2013, nearly 500 tons of foodstuffs have been recovered, which represents savings of more than $4 million for our organizations. For more information: www.moissonmontreal.org/our-action.

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For more information, please contact:

Alexandra Carpentier
Media Relations, Moisson Montréal
T. 514 344-4494, ext. 239
C. 514 701-4206
acarpentier@moissonmontreal.org