Mississauga, Ont., February 3, 2022– Rabba Fine Foods, the GTA’s neighbourhood market, renews its commitment to help The Grocery Foundation raise money for children in need through the foundation’s popular, industry-wide Toonies for Tummies program. The annual campaign helps fund more than 5,000 programs across Canada that provide nutritious meals to local students and has collectively raised $13 million since 2010.
“We’re always stronger when we act together,” says Rima Rabba, head of Rabba Roots, the company’s community giving program. “We’ve been honoured to participate in Toonies for Tummies since 2010 and are always humbled to see how generous Canadians are toward their neighbours. We cannot thank The Grocery Foundation enough for its leadership and efforts to bring us all together in this important cause.”
Donations collected at Rabba locations will remain local, directed to Student Nutrition Ontario programs. Rabba customers will be invited to make donations to the program at point of sale, February 3 to 17. Through the support of the program’s sponsors and participating retailers, The Foundation is able to ensure 100 per cent of shopper donations make their way back to student nutrition programs which have continued to provide support as students study at home and in school, many facing increased needs and costs including those associated with providing single serve meals in a safe environment.
“We thank every donor for their contribution,” says Shaun McKenna, Executive Director at The Grocery Foundation. “The programs provide much more than a source of vital nourishment, they support children’s mental health in a welcoming and nurturing environment when so much around them has changed. Every dollar helps support our collective mission of providing a little more food security to the growing number of children who need it most.”
Shoppers can also donate online at groceryfoundation.com and consult the Foundation’s online Toonie Tracker to see the programs funded by the campaign which continues to grow with each year. Donations of $25 or more made online receive a tax receipt.
Sadly, 1 in 3 Canadian aged school children are at risk of going to school on an empty stomach.1 In Toronto, one in five families face food insecurity.
As Canadians brace themselves for the coldest month of year, Rabba encourages those who can support their favourite charities to provide food and shelter to neighbours in need.
For more information on the initiative, or to make a donation, please visit groceryfoundation.com or follow the campaign at #Toonies4Tummies.
1 Source: Breakfast Club of Canada
About Rabba Fine Foods
Rabba Fine Foods is a local market and convenience store that serves the daily grocery needs of more than 36 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, its Rabba Roots community program or any of its locations, visit rabba.com.
From February 3 to 17, Rabba locations will participate in the annual Toonies for Tummies campaign in support of local student nutrition programs. Since joining the program in 2015, Rabba and its customers have helped to contribute more than $35,000 to the important cause.