The Food Bank in Toronto confirmed that Metro stores donated perishable goods to it, as around 30 store locations have closed due to the employees' strike.

The CEO of Daily Bread Food Bank, Neil Hetherington, stated that drivers picked up shipments of perishable goods on Tuesday and Wednesday from about twenty locations in Metro, among the 27 stores currently closed in the Toronto area.

Hetherington added that the extra load of food from the grocery chain, especially chicken and meat products nearing their expiration date, will be directed to the massive freezer outside the Daily Bread site.

He indicated that after ensuring the food is healthy and safe, they will sort it and send it to individuals struggling with hunger in the city.

For its part, Metro confirmed that food that was set to spoil during the labor dispute has been moved to other store locations, with the remaining stock donated to food banks, including Daily Bread, since the weekend.

According to a report released in January, reliance on food banks and other food charities in Canada is expected to rise by 60% this year, after a 134% growth in reliance on the food program in 2022.

In addition to the management team at Metro, Hetherington expressed gratitude to the striking workers who allowed trucks to pass through the picket line and reach people around the city as soon as possible.

It is worth noting that the Daily Bread Food Bank supports 200 food banks, from Scarborough to Etobicoke, which collectively serve 270,000 people.