Raising money for a good cause

A local manufacturing company in Oshawa has made a large donation to Feed the Need in Durham (FTND) to help with their effort in supporting the community amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

EHC Global (EHC) recently donated $10,000 to FTND, an Oshawa-based charitable organization that works to distribute meals to those in need throughout Durham Region.

EHC is a leading manufacturer and supplier or handrails, rollers, safety brushes, elevator belts, strategic components, and integrated solutions to the vertical transportation industry.

Responding to the immediate need of local food banks for funding to offset the significant drop in food donations, employees at EHC’s global headquarters and manufacturing facility in Oshawa organized a successful two-week fundraising campaign. Many managers even pitched in and challenged one another to match or even double the contributions of their respective departments.

Inspired by the efforts and generosity of EHC employees as well as their lifelong ties to Oshawa and Durham Region, Ronald Ball, founder and chairman, and Jeno Eppel, president and CEO, each doubled what the staff raising through their fundraising efforts.

“Since our humble beginnings over forty years ago, EHC has always been committed to helping to make the world a better place by supporting the communities that we work in, live and serve around the world,” says Ball in an EHC press release. “We truly appreciate the tireless efforts and recognize the immediate positive impact that Feed the Need in Durham staff, partners, and volunteers have had and continue to have throughout Durham Region, especially at this time of unprecedented need.”

Feed the Need in Durham is a unique and innovative organization, founded through collaboration, with a focus on collective impact. Working with 57 emergency food providers and five school nutrition programs across Durham, 1.22 million meals were distributed in 2019 to those in need in the community, supporting 37,750 visits each month, 40 per cent of whom are children.

“FTND would like to thank EHC Global and their entire staff team for this generous contribution to our work, at this extraordinary time,” FTND Executive Director Ben Earle says in the release. “The generosity of our corporate partners and their employees provides a great example of the spirit of our community. We thank the entire EHC team for their support of our bulk food purchasing program and for making a significant impact on hunger in our community,” he continues, adding the donation allows FTND to purchase, in bulk, the specific items most needed and requested by our network of emergency food providers.