OUR GIVING TUESDAY CAUSE
Why We Are Filling Plates this Year
Every day in our District, there are neighbours (families, children, seniors) who wonder where their next meal will come from. It’s a reality that weighs heavily in our community, and one we cannot ignore.
Behind every statistic are seniors skipping meals so they can afford medication, parents quietly going hungry so their children can eat, and community programs stretched thin trying to meet the growing demand.
And while food banks and meal programs provide critical relief, long-term food security takes sustained, collective action.
That’s why this Giving Tuesday 2025, the Thunder Bay Community Foundation is excited to take part in this movement of generosity and encourage everyone to rally with us in one shared goal: to fill the plates of our neighbours through the newly established Food Security Fund!
With your support, we aim to raise $22,500 for this Fund, and every donation made to the Fund will be matched by a generous donor and evenly distributed to three trusted local organizations feeding our community!
According to the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, in our city where the cost of living is higher and access to affordable groceries is limited, the challenge is even greater.
Households experienced food insecurity in Thunder Bay
Out of 4 children live in a food insecure household
Average monthly caseloads receiving social assistance
OUR PHILANTHROPIC SOLUTION
The Newly Established ‘Food Security Fund’
The Food Security Fund is a Fund dedicated to supporting food access in our community. Its purpose is to strengthen the capacity of local organizations that provide healthy, affordable, and culturally appropriate food to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity— not just today, but for the long term.
Through this Fund, we are committed to helping ensure support for food security remains consistent, reliable, and available year-round.
WHERE YOUR GENEROSITY GOES
The Community Organizations
Regional food Distribution Association
RFDA distributes food across Northwestern Ontario, ensuring that local food banks, community programs, and outreach initiatives have the supplies they need to feed families, individuals, and communities in need.
Your donation’s Impact:
“Funds raised through this year’s Giving Tuesday matching campaign will directly support the purchase of our Christmas Hampers’ ingredients, ensuring we can meet the growing demand in our community.”
St. Andrew's Dew Drop Inn - Thunder Bay
A local community organization Provides hot meals, groceries, and essential support services to people experiencing poverty, homelessness, or food insecurity. Beyond feeding the hungry, they create a welcoming space for connection and dignity.
Your donation’s Impact:
“Funds received during Giving Tuesday will go towards serving a good meal daily with no judgment or questions asked. Knowing a good meal awaits daily lifts a bit of weight off of already burdened shoulders.“
Roots Community Food Centre - Thunder Bay
Focuses on building healthy, resilient communities through food. Their programs include community kitchens, gardens, and educational initiatives, helping residents access nutritious food while learning essential skills in the kitchen.
Your donation’s Impact:
“Donations will go toward our Free Soup for Students program to serve more days each week and provide nutritious and barrier-free meals to every student who walks through the doors of our Get Fresh Cafes.”
IT’S A MATCHING GIFT!
Double Your Impact this Giving Tuesday
Every dollar you give to the Food Security Fund will be matched by a generous donor up to $22,500!
That means together, we’re bringing our fundraising goal to $45,000 by the end of the campaign and fill twice as many plates for families, children, and seniors who are struggling with hunger in our community.
By giving today, you’re joining a movement of generosity that will ripple through kitchens, tables, and communities across the city of Thunder Bay and the District.
NOURISHMENT OF HOPE
The Power of a Full Plate
Here in Northern Ontario, the average cost of a single nourishing meal is around $20 per person enough to provide healthy staples in a plate like fresh produce, grains, and proteins that so many go without.
With every $20, a full plate goes far beyond simply filling a stomach. It nourishes the spirit, sparks joy in small moments of relief, and strengthens the bonds that make a community resilient.
Children
A full plate means comfort for a child who is hungry
Parent
A full plate means reassurance for a parent who wants to provide
Community
A full plate means coming together to support one another
So join us in turning empty plates into full ones and showing that compassion, care, and community truly go hand in hand, especially this Giving Tuesday.
Launching our first-ever Giving Tuesday campaign is both exciting and profoundly meaningful for our Foundation. With ‘Fill the Plates’ as our inaugural campaign, we have a powerful opportunity to amplify the voices of those who are struggling and to invite our community to help build a brighter, more food-secure future for everyone in our District.
Alongside our generous donor, I truly believe this campaign is more than a call to give; it’s a moment for us to come together and show just how deeply we care for one another.
Athena Kreiner
CEO, Thunder Bay Community Foundation
HELP US FILL THE PLATES
Donate now and together we can turn generosity into nourishment, one plate a time.
