The RCO Foundation Makes First Significant Grant to Support Food for Life and Strengthen Community Food Access
Proud to join community leaders in celebrating a major investment in food security across Halton. Congratulations to The RCO Foundation on its first significant grant, supporting Food for Life with a new refrigerated truck that will help deliver more fresh, nutritious food to families who need it most.
As food insecurity continues to affect too many households, partnerships like this demonstrate the power of community organizations working together to create practical solutions and make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Thank you to everyone involved for helping build a healthier, more caring community.
Please see Food For Life’s full media release below:
PRESS RELEASE: The RCO Foundation Makes First Significant Grant to Support Food for Life and Strengthen Community Food Access
Halton, ON – The RCO Foundation (RCOF) is making its first significant grant, investing in Food for Life to expand access to fresh, nutritious food across Halton Region.
At a time when food insecurity is increasing across the region, Food for Life continues to scale its operations—rescuing surplus food, supporting local agencies, and ensuring that families have access to healthy meals. With support from the RCOF, that work will take a meaningful step forward.
The Foundation’s grant will fund a new refrigerated truck, increasing Food for Life’s capacity to safely collect, transport, and distribute fresh food across Halton. The additional capacity will help increase food access to the more then 3,500 households Food for Life supports across Halton Region, with 1,200 of those households from Oakville.
“This is about more than a truck—it’s about ensuring fresh, healthy food reaches people when and where it’s needed most,” said Gary Comerford, President of The RCO Foundation. “We are committed to supporting practical, high-impact initiatives that strengthen our community.”
"Supporting our local neighbourhood has always been a cornerstone of Rotary's mission", said Lynn Childs, President of the Rotary Cub of Oakville. "With this donation of a new, refrigerated truck to Food For Life, we are excited to see the substantial increase in their footprint. With this mobile solution, it will directly address the food insecurities many individuals and families face everyday AND right in our own communities...literally fueling life, one block at a time!"
“This investment will significantly expand our ability to serve the community,” said Karen Randell, Executive Director of Food for Life. “With this new truck, we can reach more families and deliver more fresh, healthy food where it is needed most.”
This initiative reflects a shared commitment to building a stronger, more inclusive community by addressing immediate needs with practical, scalable solutions.
About The RCO Foundation The RCO Foundation (RCOF) is an independent registered Canadian public foundation dedicated to supporting high-impact charitable initiatives. Guided by Rotary values and the principle of Service Above Self, RCOF provides funding to strengthen communities locally, across Ontario, and internationally through qualified partners.
Through thoughtful stewardship and strategic grant-making, RCOF supports a range of community priorities, including health, community well-being, youth, and other areas of need. The Foundation is committed to transparency, accountability, and delivering meaningful, measurable impact.
For more information on The RCO Foundation, please visit www.thercofoundation.ca
About Food for Life
Operating the region's largest food rescue hub, Food for Life rescues and redistributes close to 5 million lbs of nutritious food each year, bridging the gap between food excess and hunger for 30 years. Guided by the voices of neighbours and partners – and informed by strong research and impact data Food for Life ensures its work is responsive, equitable and rooted in real community need. The organization partners with local farms, grocery stores and businesses to provide fresh, nutritious food to those in need through over 90 food access points across Halton and Hamilton. Their mission: Rescuing Food, Impacting Lives.
Media Contact:
Meaghan Richardson
Director of Development and Marketing, Food for Life
(905) 635-1106 ext. 230
meaghan@foodforlife.ca
