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Toyota Funding Boost Increases Organic Veggie Output

Toyota partners with rare Charitable Research Reserve to help more families and food banks enjoy local organic produce

 (Cambridge/North Dumfries June 9, 2016): Today the rare Charitable Research Reserve and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada are pleased to announce a $100,000 funding partnership that is increasing the size of Springbank Community Gardens. With Toyota’s generous support, another 660 square feet of garden space is being added to the already 15,000 square feet dedicated Food Bank Garden plot, and is expected to produce more than 3,000 pounds of fresh organic produce this year, doubling what the existing plot produced in 2015.

“We are thrilled and grateful for this amazing gift of $100,000 from Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada,” says rare Executive Director Stephanie Sobek-Swant. “We have 110 garden plots, giving community members the opportunity to grow their own organic vegetables even if they don’t have sufficient space at home. I’m particularly thrilled that the support allows us to grow our Food Bank Garden significantly, serving more people in need of healthy foods and activities across the Region.”

TMMC President Fred Volf planting at rare's Springbank Community Gardens. Photo by Rhiannon Hodgson
TMMC President Fred Volf planting at rare’s Springbank Community Gardens. Photo by Rhiannon Hodgson

Established in 2007, Springbank Community Gardens is also home to an Education and Demonstration Garden that teaches the public how to grow organic produce. The Food Bank Garden is planted and maintained almost entirely by volunteers, and currently provides fresh organic produce to the Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank but is now expanding to include several other food banks in the area.

 “Giving back to the community is an important part of what we do at TMMC,” says Fred Volf, President, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada. “We are pleased to partner with rare Charitable Research Reserve to help make local fresh healthy food available to more residents in Waterloo Region.”

 About rare

Founded in 2001, the rare Charitable Research Reserve is a 900+ acre land trust and environmental institute situated at the confluence of the Grand and Speed Rivers in the heart of the Waterloo Region. The reserve is a beautifully and culturally significant landscape that includes trees more than 240 years old. Rich in biodiversity, rare is home to an array of flora and fauna – some of which are ranked significant regionally, provincially, nationally and even globally. Striving to preserve the land for future generations rare focuses on conservation, research and education through ecological restoration, environmental programming, and providing passive recreation opportunities to the surrounding community through 8km of trails.

About Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC)

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc. manufactures the Toyota Corolla, RAV4, Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h vehicles and is the first plant outside of Japan to build a Lexus vehicle. The company employs more than 8,000 Team Members at three manufacturing plants in Ontario, Canada.

For information about Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, visit www.tmmc.ca.

For more information about Toyota products, visit www.toyota.ca.

 

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Contacts:

Stephanie Sobek-Swant, rare, Executive Director

519-650-9336 x113

stephanie.sobek-swant@raresites.org

 

Daniel Radoslav, rare, Garden’s Coordinator

519-650-9336 x 115

daniel.radoslav@raresites.org

 

Suzanne Baal, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada

Telephone: 519-653-1111 extension 2209

suzanne.baal@tmmc.ca