Region to work with Province to distribute food gift cards

Waterloo Region – The Region of Waterloo is working with the Province of Ontario to distribute grocery store gift cards to local residents who lost food after the recent ice storm power outages.

The grocery store cards are intended to help people who lost food and are unable to replace it without financial assistance. The initiative cannot provide grocery store cards to everyone who lost power, and is reserved for those facing the most need.

To qualify for a gift card, residents must have had a hydro outage for more than 48 hours and require financial assistance to replace lost food. To inquire, residents can call 519-883-2100 and select option 1. The supply of cards is limited. Residents can call from January 7 until January 9.

This initiative has been made possible through the generosity of Ontario's corporate sector as well as unions and associations working with the province to quickly deliver food aid to those who most need it this week, including a major donation of $250,000 to the Canadian Red Cross from the Canadian Tire Family of Companies on behalf of Ontario's hydro workers, in support of the province's food support initiative.

-30-

 For more information, please contact: 
 David Dirks, Director, Employment and Income support, 519-883-2179