CFO donates 9,000 meals to Palmerston food bank

PALMERSTON – The Chicken Farmers of Ontario (CFO) recently participated in a CFO Cares: Farmers to Food Banks event here.

Local chicken farmers, CFO representatives, food bank volunteers and Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae gathered at the Palmerston Food Bank on Sept. 9 to recognize a donation of 1,000 kilograms of locally grown chicken, donated to the food bank in 2026.

This represents 9,000 meals for families and individuals in need in Palmerston and the surrounding area. According to a recent media release, food banks in the Perth-Wellington riding will receive 30,000 meals of locally grown chicken this year.

The CFO Cares: Farmers to Food Banks Program is CFO’s way of giving back to communities across the province, Doug Duimering, board director for district seven (Wellington County) of the CFO shared with the group at the event. 

The program also allows each chicken farmer to donate 300 chickens (700kg) each year to Ontario food banks.

“It operates partly because of supply management,” said Duimering. “Supply management ensures that farmers can produce the right amount of food for Canadians.”

He added, “it’s food grown by Canadian farmers for Canadian families, and is a cornerstone of our chicken supply chain.”

The Palmerston Community Food Bank shared on its social media that the CFO program contributes to one million chicken meals for Ontarian food banks on an annual basis. They added in 2025, chicken farmers have contributed to over 12,000 meals provided through local food banks in Perth–Wellington.

“It’s great to see Palmerston, but also Harrison, Clifford, Drayton, Arthur and Mount Forest having that support in those communities for those who need it, and it really functions because of all of you in this room, the farmers making that donation today,” said Rae.

The MPP added that many other commodity groups, such as dairy farmers and beef farmers help support local food banks in their local communities, “supporting the economic aspect, but then supporting those who may need a little help and down on their luck.”

The Palmerston food bank has hamper days every Thursday from 2 to 5pm. Those needing hampers need to call in by Wednesday evenings at 9pm to be put on the list, as food bank volunteers do the shopping on Thursday mornings.

President and co-chair of the Palmerston Community Food Bank Deanna Martin shared at the Sept. 9 event that from January to June of this year, the food bank gave out 258 hampers to 92 households, which she stated is “quite a lot.”

Of those, 126 were individuals under the age of 18, and 28 were seniors. Martin explained most people coming to the food bank need to come back more than once.

“I’m hoping you never have to see us. But if you do call, we wouldn’t ask any questions like how much you make or what your expenses are,” said Martin. “We just say you have to be a resident of Palmerston, and you bring your ID with you. That’s all.”