FEED Niagara is a network of 10 food banks in the region. | PHOTO: COURTESY OF ATLAS COMPOSER/ENVATO
COMMUNITY
Why Local Partnerships Matter
Support for regional charitable organizations like FEED Niagara goes far beyond funding when CAA gets involved.
By Sarah Laing
If you want to understand why FEED Niagara is such a vital service provider in our community, try this exercise the next time you’re driving down the QEW.
“Right now, one in five people in Niagara uses a food bank,” says David Vandersteen, manager of FEED Niagara, “So, if you think of driving from Grimsby to St. Catharines, and all of those cars passing you on the highway, one in five of those is using a food bank.”
This underscores the need for the hyper-local impact of FEED Niagara, a network of 10 food banks serving the region. It uses the power of scale and logistics to enable these food banks to feed more people collectively than they could individually. This spring, they’ll be opening a warehouse to handle the truckloads of food being sent to the food banks.
“Food banks are overstressed right now, and that’s putting it mildly. Anything we can do to bring in more food is going to have an immediate and direct impact on the families in Niagara that need us.”
Over four years, food bank demand has gone up at least 25 percent in Niagara. | PHOTO: SABRINA BRACHER/ENVATO
“Sometimes you’re helping out your friends, your neighbours,” says Vandersteen, adding that food bank demand has gone up at least 25 percent in Niagara over the last four years. Some organizations are reporting double, even triple the need. “Food banks are overstressed right now, and that’s putting it mildly. Anything we can do to bring in more food is going to have an immediate and direct impact on the families in Niagara that need us.”
As a CAA Member living in the Niagara region, it really is you that is enabling that work. As a not-for-profit, CAA Niagara is committed to making a tangible, significant impact in the local community. Case in point: in 2023, CAA Niagara pledged $1M in support for FEED Niagara, via annual $100,000 infusions over a decade. Vandersteen says that without this commitment, FEED Niagara would likely not exist at all.
“CAA has been a huge part of getting FEED Niagara off the ground. The funding that they provided is basically our seed capital,” says Vandersteen. “Right now, we’re building out the infrastructure, opening that warehouse, seeking partnerships. I’m not spending all my time chasing down money to keep the lights on. It’s allowed us to actually get the work done.”
This support, he adds, has extended beyond just a cheque. CAA Niagara has invited the organization to use its meeting rooms and has helped spread awareness about its mission through advertising and events.
“CAA is one of those companies that put their money where their mouth is,” Vandersteen says. “They are boots on the ground, heavily invested in Niagara, and you can see their impact everywhere on a daily basis.” CAA
CAA Niagara has pledged $1M in support for FEED Niagara, via annual $100,000 infusions for 10 years. | PHOTO: YURIARCURSPEOPLEIMAGES/ENVATO
HOW CAA SUPPORTS THE NIAGARA COMMUNITY Community Boost
CAA Niagara invites local charities and non-profits to apply for support. The goal is simple: to do good for those doing good in our communities. Since launching, Community Boost has provided more than $140,000 in funding, along with marketing support and employee volunteer involvement.
Partners for Good
This initiative connects CAA Niagara Rewards partners with local charities to make a meaningful impact across the region. Through collaborative campaigns, fundraising initiatives and community events, the program helps turn everyday member experiences into support for organizations doing important work in Niagara.
Sponsorships and Community Presence
CAA Niagara proudly supports community events and initiatives across the region through sponsorships that bring people together and celebrate what makes our communities unique. From local festivals and events to cultural celebrations and community gatherings, these partnerships strengthen the connections that make Niagara such a vibrant place to live.