On November 5, 2009, the W. Garfield Weston Foundation donated $540,000 to The Salvation Army in an effort to assist with the dramatic increase in demand for assistance, particularly for its food banks and meal programs.

“With demand for food assistance increasing between 10-40 percent across the country, this generous gift from the foundation could not have come at a more opportune time,” says Commissioner William W. Francis, territorial commander.

Twenty-five Salvation Army offices, from British Columbia to Prince Edward Island, were given grants to restock their food banks, introduce new community kitchen programs, upgrade kitchen facilities and expand feeding programs for the homeless, the working poor and seniors living on a fixed income. Funds were also provided for school breakfast programs as well as emergency clothing and shelter.

“The Salvation Army is well known to be one of the most effective organizations in delivering assistance to people in need across Canada,” says Garfield Mitchell, director of the foundation. “The Weston family and the W. Garfield Weston Foundation are delighted to continue their long history of support for The Salvation Army by making a significant commitment to its vital and hope-giving work.”

Other gifts from the foundation include:

• $150,000 that was directed to both the ROPES programs in Salvation Army camps across Canada and to support a national conference and training resources to strengthen the Army's services to victims of human trafficking.

• $2 million that was committed to The Salvation Army in memory of Miriam Burnett, past chair of the foundation. Of this gift, $500,000 has been used to establish the Miriam Burnett Trust for Addictions Studies. The trust provides training grants to Salvation Army addictions counsellors that will enable them to receive their international certification. The remaining $1.5 million is pledged to the Toronto Homestead, which provides day treatment and residential treatment programs for women struggling with substance abuse.

In addition, each Christmas, Loblaw Companies Limited (operated by George Weston Limited) supports The Salvation Army kettle program by allowing kettles in their stores, which include Superstore, No Frills, Fortinos and Zehrs. In 2008, more than $1.4 million was collected through these stores.

The Salvation Army and the Weston family have a long history. “Our family has had a close relationship with The Salvation Army and its colleagues for more than 40 years,” says W. Galen Weston, president of the foundation. In 1971, the late W. Garfield Weston of London, England, gifted his private family recreation camp, consisting of 20,000 acres of land in Northern Ontario, to The Salvation Army to utilize as Madawaska summer camp. Weston was also acquainted with the late Generals Clarence Wiseman and Arnold Brown. Since 1965, the foundation has donated more than $3.6 million in cash and pledges to a wide variety of Salvation Army programs.

“We are most grateful for the continued generosity of the Weston family and the foundation,” continues Commissioner Francis. “Through these donations The Salvation Army will continue to give hope to the hundreds of thousands affected by the heartache of poverty.”

Top photo: The Weston family provides $540,000 to help restock The Salvation Army's food shelves. From left, Marcello Piane, district manager, Loblaw's (Toronto); Garfield Mitchell, director, the W. Garfield Weston Foundation; Commissioner William W. Francis, TC; Colonel Don Copple, former CS; bottom: The late W. Garfield Weston and his wife, Reta, established a foundation that continues to enhance the quality of life for all Canadians