Through its Rabba Roots program and support from P&G Canada, company responds to local food bank’s call for essential products to help refugees upon arrival
Mississauga, Ont., August 26, 2021 – Rabba Fine Foods, a company with a long history of community support and, in particular, helping new Canadians, has joined forces with P&G Canada to donate toiletries, personal care products, baby supplies and other essential products to The Mississauga Food Bank to help 2,000 refugees from Afghanistan expected to arrive to Canada over the next few weeks. The donation is part of the company’s Rabba Roots Community program and a long-standing partnership with The Mississauga Food Bank.
“The images we’ve seen from Afghanistan have broken our hearts,” says Rick Rabba, president of Rabba Fine Foods. “We will always do our very best to help our partners at The Mississauga Food Bank to support refugees arriving to Canada and those in need.”
Thousands of Afghans are seeking refuge across the globe after Taliban fighters seized control of major towns across the country, culminating in the occupation of the capital, Kabul, on Sunday, August 15. The actions come just weeks after the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan for the first time in 20 years. In response, the federal government has set up a program to resettle 20,000 refugees who supported Canadian military operations against the Taliban.
“Within the last year, Rabba Fine Foods has made an in-kind donation of retail product valued at over a hundred thousand dollars to The Mississauga Food Bank in support of curbing food insecurity within the community,” continues Rabba.
“The Mississauga Food Bank is committed to providing food for hungry neighbours and that often includes new Canadians who, in situations like these, arrive in need of emergency food,” says Meghan Nicholls, Chief Executive Officer at The Mississauga Food Bank. “It takes the entire community coming together to make sure no one goes hungry on our watch. We are so grateful to all of our supporters, including Rabba and its Rabba Roots Program for their continuous support over the years.”
From 2020 to 2021, 31 per cent of The Mississauga Food Bank users were refugees or newcomers in Canada 10 years or less. More and more refugees or newcomers have accessed the network of neighbourhood food banks, meal programs, and other sources of emergency food because they cannot keep up with the ever climbing cost of living.
Rabba invites all those who are able to make a donation to The Mississauga Food Bank to do so by visiting themississaugafoodbank.org.
About Rabba Fine Foods
Rabba Fine Foods is a local market and convenience store that serves the daily grocery needs of more than 35 neighbourhoods in the central and western parts of the GTA. Open year round, 24 hours a day, Rabba offers everything you’d expect from your local market – fresh produce, deli counter, ready-to-eat items, bakery, dairy products and other essential supplies for home or work. A family-run business with roots extending back to 1967, Rabba is committed to serving its neighbours and friends in the GTA and meeting their ever-changing grocery and convenience needs. For more information on Rabba or any of its locations, visit rabba.com.
About The Mississauga Food Bank
The Mississauga Food Bank is the central food bank in Mississauga. Through its network of over 50 agencies including neighbourhood food banks, pantries, and meal and snack programs, the food bank distributes food for almost five million meals each year to vulnerable children, seniors, families, and neighbours in Mississauga. For more information on The Mississauga Food Bank or its programs, visit themississaugafoodbank.org.
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For more information:
Samiha Fariha
Torchia Communications
Cell: 647-268-6687
samiha@torchiacom.com