DirectFood.store Donates Fresh & Local Food to Families in Need as Part of Its Food Access Initiative. 

Christmas trees, gift boxes, and a festive spirit mark the holiday season.

But for many, the holiday season is a difficult time. More so, in a year filled with uncertainties due to the current crisis. 

There are individuals, families and whole communities struggling to make ends meet. Whether it be financial stress and pressure, or personal challenges, it can be tough to cope without support from others. This is an important time of year to focus on giving to those who need help. The act of giving creates a new perspective and can rekindle a sense of gratitude.

With this in mind, DirectFood.store partnered with the Pacific Autism Family Network (PAFN) to launch the “Be A Santa” holiday initiative. The campaign encouraged the community to shop, share and support its cause to help raise donations of fresh, healthy and local food for families of the PAFN.

The Pacific Autism Family Network provides support to families across BC who are dealing with Autism Spectrum Disorder. As part of their core purpose, they bring together state-of-the-art resources for research, information, learning, assessment, treatment, and support while addressing the needs of individuals with ASD and related disorders. 

In Canada, among children aged 5-17: 

- 1 in 66 have been diagnosed with ASD 

- Males are 4x more frequently identified with ASD; 1 in 42 males were diagnosed with ASD; 1 in 165 females was diagnosed with ASD 

- More than half of children/youth were diagnosed by age 6; more than 90% of children/youth were diagnosed by age 12 

Creating awareness for this cause is essential to help break the stigma associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder. For families, an ASD diagnosis can create significant emotional and financial stress. 

“Most of the kids with autism and their families need financial assistance, food and support,” says Stephanie Betsch, Manager, Fraser Valley Spoke. “The donations by DirectFood.store will bring joy and happiness to the families during the festive season, especially in a year with COVID.” 

“We’re grateful to be a part of a dedicated team committed to real food and getting it into the hands of the people who need it most.” Colin Schmidt, CEO of DirectFood.store, adds, “Community is one of our corporate core values as we have continually demonstrated in the Fraser Valley tech community. Now with DirectFood.store, we are excited to expand this by supporting local charities with access to fresh and healthy food.”

Every order placed on DirectFood.store during the campaign contributed to a food donation. Our generous customers’ donations helped DirectFood.store and PAFN provide fresh and healthy food from local farmers and vendors to Fraser Valley families. 

The campaign is part of DirectFood.store’s Food Access Initiative, helping charities and non-profits access fresh, local and healthy food at wholesale prices. Eligible charities and non-profits can register with DirectFood.store and get bulk discounts on local and fresh products. 

DirectFood.store continues to strive towards its mission of empowering local communities. We thank our customers who wholeheartedly supported this campaign and helped the families in need during the holiday season.