Canadian News

JerkFest Donates $10K to Two Food Banks Ahead of Thanksgiving

Afri-Can FoodBasket and Regeneration Marketplace Benefit from the Festival Food Drive

October 5, 2022 (Toronto, ON) –  After a successful Jerk Food and Music Festival with record-breaking attendance, today Caribbean Promotions Arts and Culture Inc., organizers of the summer event donated $5000 each to Afri-Can FoodBasket and Regeneration MarketPlace  as well as more than 1000 pounds of food collected at the festival from attendees. “We have always implemented a give back model in our Jerk Food and Music Festival,” explained Anthony Plummer, Executive Director of Caribbean Promotions Arts and Culture Inc. “Over the 21 year history of JerkFest, we have donated cash, supplies, scholarships and much more to the African-Caribbean community locally and internationally. With food insecurity being a major issue during the pandemic, and now due to high inflation, we felt we could be of service to racialized and marginalized communities who are struggling to put food on the table.”

More than one-quarter of Black households in Toronto are food insecure, representing about 300,000 children alone. Black Torontonians are three-and-a-half times more likely to be food insecure than others.When the COVID-19 pandemic began, food insecurity worsened in the city’s Black communities. Afri-Can FoodBasket responded with Black Food Toronto, a traditional food bank that helped to meet immediate needs for access to culturally appropriate food. During the pandemic, Black Food Toronto distributed one million pounds of food with support from CABR, Community Food Centers Canada, Network for the Advancement of Black Communities, and the public.

“The JerkFest Food drive helped our commitment to increase food access and reduce hunger in the African, Caribbean, Black community,” said Zakiya Tafari, Afri-Can Interim Executive Director. “Additionally, having an information booth at JerkFest gave us an opportunity to engage with patrons which helped us raise awareness about food insecurity and recruit volunteers.”

Regeneration runs a meal program in downtown Brampton serving more than 250 breakfast and lunches weekly and three years ago launched Regeneration Marketplace, which provides food for 430 families per week. The appointment based food bank allows households to come in each week to access food, personal care items and seasonal necessities. It serves a diverse population that has grown dramatically due to inflation, high grocery costs and post-pandemic recovery.

“Regeneration strives to serve with love and dignity- and at this time of heightened food insecurity,” explained Ted Brown, CEO of Regeneration. “This generous support from JerkFest will bolster our efforts to provide meaningful care to those in the Brampton community that need it most.”

Also in attendance was Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown who added:

Regeneration MarketPlace serves the diverse community of Brampton and helps individuals and families dealing with food insecurity. They are doing an incredible job and support from organizations like the Jerk Food and Music Festival and its patrons shows what can be done when we all pitch in and donate to those in need.”

Rogers Sports and Media has been the media sponsor for the JerkFest Give Back campaign for the past two years, providing thousands of dollars in PSA spots on both television and radio. All IN Manager Sharon Hinds explained why it was important for her personally to support the initiative: “This speaks to my personal passion and lived experience and it really motivates me to contribute and to see change and drive change across all racialized communities.”

With Thanksgiving approaching this weekend, both food banks are encouraging culturally specific food donations such as low-sodium canned beans and chickpeas, rice, low sugar products and non-perishable food items.

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