Total Prepare Inc, Canada’s number one source for emergency preparedness products, has created the Emergency Food Rescue Program to help Canadian food banks keep up with growing demand.

Between 2019 and 2022 there was a 35% increase in visits to Canadian food banks as more Canadians turned to food banks for their meals due to financial hardships from the pandemic, increased costs of living, and low social assistance rates.

In contrast, many companies, government organizations, and individuals are sending expired emergency preparedness meals to landfills for disposal every year.

The Emergency Food Rescue Program was created to help solve these related challenges — food banks needing more meals, and expiring food being sent to landfills.

"We encourage organizations and individuals with emergency food stores to donate their soon-to-expire food while it can still help others", says Ed Pierik from Total Prepare, Inc. "It needs replacing anyway, why not use it to be a hero in your community?"

The benefits of donating emergency food:

• Feed your community. It’s just the right thing to do.

• Keep useful food from the landfill.

• Reduce or eliminate disposal costs.

• Large donations are often eligible for charitable tax receipts.

"The Emergency Food Rescue program is an innovative initiative that we hope will result in more food getting to folks in need whilst raising further awareness about the challenges food banks are facing. Food Banks BC applauds Total Prepare Inc's willingness to support our network during this time of greater need.", commented Dan Huang-Taylor, Executive Director, Food Banks BC

On the Emergency Food Rescue Program website, emergency preparedness meals that have not yet expired may be 'registered'. Total Prepare will send reminder notifications when items are nearing expiry, and help organizations connect with food banks in their area. Total Prepare also provides special replenishment rates for organizations that have donated their old supplies. This video shows how to find the expiration date of your MREs.

For more information visit https://totalprepare.ca/emergency-food-rescue-program/

About Total Prepare, Inc.

Founded in 2012 and owned and operated in British Columbia, Total Prepare is Canada’s number one source for emergency preparedness, offering survival kits, Meals Ready to Eat (MRE’s), freeze-dried and dehydrated emergency food, water storage and filtration, and other emergency preparedness products. For more information visit https://totalprepare.ca/