At a time when COVID-19 has challenged all Bramptonians, the agencies and groups assisting the City’s most vulnerable have stepped up. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed, and are being paid forward by Brampton businesses who have generously answered the call for help. Italpasta, a locally owned and operated manufacturer of dry spaghetti, macaroni, vermicelli, and noodles, has had to adjust to running factory operations 24 hours a day to cope with demands from grocery stores. This, however, has not stopped them from donating to food banks to support the high demand during COVID-19. Coca-Cola Bottling Company has been busy delivering their products to food banks, and providing monetary donations to local agencies in need.
Local franchise owners, such as Kelsey’s at Highway 10 and Bovaird Road, have also stepped up in the City and provided food donations to front-line health workers. A generous contribution by Brampton-based Loblaw saw the food retailer commit to providing $5 million in gift cards to food banks and community charities, including Second Harvest, Community Food Centres Canada, and others. Unilever Canada, with its large distribution centre on Airport Road in Brampton, has donated $3 million in “food, soap, personal hygiene, and home cleaning products” to Canadian charities.
Although small businesses have also faced unprecedented challenges due to COVID-19, Knights Table in Brampton has seen a stream of food donations from local restaurants. Local eateries have also stepped up in their own creative ways: J. Red & Co. and Mount Vesuvius Ristorante Brampton have created a Facebook event page with multiple dates where the restaurants are providing free meals to seniors and those in need during the crisis. Some companies, have reached out directly to the City of Brampton. For example, Golden Boy Foods Ltd. made a generous donation of multiple pallets of 100% Natural Peanut Butter. The City of Brampton thanks Brampton businesses for their generosity at such a difficult time. Thanks to our “Brampton’s Business Heroes”.