You’ve probably been told not to skip breakfast, or that it’s the “most important meal of the day.”
Whether or not you agree, and regardless of your nutritional beliefs, it’s no secret that hunger is a distraction.
To lift a quote from The Karate Kid (2010), “my focus needs more focus” when my stomach is growling. It’s even more of a problem for kids, as a missed breakfast renders them less able to pay attention and retain what they’re being taught at school.
The 2021 Toonies for Tummies Campaign
This is why we are pleased, once again, to join The Grocery Foundation in their efforts to feed hungry children. Vince’s is one of nearly 1,350 grocery retailers across the country to participate in the 2021 Toonies for Tummies (TFT) campaign. This yearly initiative has raised more than $22 million since 2000, and has set a goal of $2.75 million for 2021.
Starting today (February 12th), we are asking customers to purchase the brands who are supporting this campaign. You can find TFT items flagged throughout our aisles, or check the Toonies for Tummies page in our online flyer. These products will be featured until February 25th.
Take the Toonie Challenge
You may also recall our yearly invitation to “Take the Toonie Challenge.” From February 12-18, while checking out your groceries, cashiers will be asking if you’d like to donate a toonie to the cause. This small amount adds up quickly, with last year’s challenge collecting roughly $2.5 million nationwide before the pandemic, and funding more than one million breakfasts. This included at-school and out-of-school hampers, and meals provided to students studying at home.
Alternatively, if you’d like to make a larger donation, please visit The Grocery Foundation’s secure website. Customers who donate $25 or more online will receive a tax receipt.
TFT funds remain in the local community, and The Grocery Foundation directs 100 percent of Ontario donations to approved programs through partnerships with Student Nutrition Ontario.
Costs, unfortunately, have ballooned due to COVID-19. Meals are now individually portioned and involve many more people helping to collect, pack, and distribute the food, hampers, and gift cards. This also includes running the programs with skeleton staff when they are able to operate inside the school.
Before the pandemic, roughly one in five children were at risk of food insecurity. By the end of 2020, experts warned this figure could double, with nearly one in three children now at risk. The Grocery Foundation has responded by setting a goal to fill two times as many hungry tummies this year.
You’ll see it reflected in our advertising, and we ask you to please support this life-changing program. If you’d like to know more, visit groceryfoundation.com (for info on the national program) or stay tuned and we’ll share our results after the Toonies for Tummies campaign ends.
Thank you for your generosity!
— Neil
