This article was provided by the Ontario Mining Association (OMA), an organization that was established in 1920 to represent the mining industry of the province.
Ontario Mining Association member Vale Canada has taken a big step to strengthen Sudbury’s social safety net with a $500,000 donation to the Banque d’aliments Sudbury Food Bank Capital Campaign. The company and its employees have been supporting initiatives of this nature in the community for 23 years. This half-million-dollar contribution boosts the Sudbury Food Bank’s level of funds raised to $1.5 million — closer toward the $1.8 million capital campaign goal.
“Vale has proud history of support for the Sudbury Food bank and we are pleased to provide this donation toward its new warehouse, which will allow for more effective storage and distribution of food to those in need in the community,” said Tito Martins, Chief Executive Officer of Vale Canada. Mr. Martins also serves as Honourary Chair of the Sudbury Food Bank.
“This donation of $500,000 brings our campaign a large step closer to success,” said Geoffrey Lougheed, Chair of the Sudbury Food Bank. “The personal commitment of Mr. Martins to serve as Honourary Chair will provide leadership and inspire others to bring this campaign over the top. Both Mr. Martins and Vale have put their goodwill into action and the Sudbury Food bank is grateful for this outstanding dedication to feed the hungry.”
“With this generous gift, the Sudbury Food Bank will be able to ensure those in need can sit down at the dinner table and enjoy a healthy meal provided by the community’s generous donations,” said Marianne Matichuk, Mayor of Greater Sudbury. “I would like to thank Vale for their continued support in making the City of Greater Sudbury a place where people can be proud to live, work and play.”
We all know that in a perfect world, we would not need food banks but they have become fixtures in Canadian society in a formal basis since the 1980s. The Banque d’aliments Sudbury Food Bank has acted as umbrella organization in the region since the mid-1980s and it supports 46 food agencies. It is estimated that on a monthly basis 14,000 people use the Food Bank in Sudbury with about half that total being children.
Food banks have developed into essential components of the fabric of the social safety net in many Canadian communities. Other OMA members listed on the Sudbury Food Bank website as partners are Xstrata Nickel, Atlas Copco and Hatch.
Mining companies are responsible, solution-providing partners in society. They do more than find, extract and process minerals essential to our modern lifestyle. They volunteer and add great value to the quality of life in their communities and beyond.