By CRM Staff
Toronto, Ontario — June 15, 2017 — CSN-Martino Brothers Collision, Discount Car and Truck Rentals and Parkdale Community Food Bank have partnered up to assist autobody students in the Tropicana Autobody Pre-Apprenticeship program that require food, baby needs, pet supplies and other household items.
The idea came about from a conversation between Marc Tremblay of Tropicana and Jack Martino from CSN-Martino Brothers. Martino is on the board at Parkdale Community Food Bank and has also been a supporter of the Tropicana program.
“Many of our students don’t make it full term with our program, largely due to financial reasons,” says Tremblay. “Quite often these students have worked to support dependents and themselves before they join the collision repair program. As we know, the two biggest expenses are rent and food.”
Tremblay and Martino soon devised a plan to deliver food to the homes of students that required this extra help. The students that registered for this program were asked to complete an application that describes how many dependents were in their household and their ages, any food allergies, religious requirements on foods and if they had any pets. These students receive enough food and snacks for three days, infant supplies such as diapers and baby food and household supplies such as cleaning materials. The delivery to these students is being done by Discount Car and Truck Rentals. The packages are prepared at Parkdale Community Food Bank every Saturday morning, then picked up by a Discount representative and delivered directly to the students’ homes.
Shane Lala from Discount was instrumental in helping with deliveries. “Discount Car and Truck Rentals feels that these students are part of the collision industry,” says Lala. “If what we are doing can assist a student to fully complete their school term, then we’re happy to help.”
This is a very positive program for students that have picked auto collision repair as a career. The Parkdale Community Food Bank is one of the largest food banks in the country, accommodating up to 3,000 servings a month. Jack Martino has been the Executive Director and Chair of the Parkdale Community Foodbank for the last 10 years.
“I know that the work done at Parkdale changes lives for the better,” he says. “Our food bank not only helps feed the Parkdale and surrounding areas, we are also a safe haven and a destination for employment opportunities, medical information, tax filing and advice, clothing and household needs and friendship.”
Like all food banks across Canada, the Parkdale Community Food Bank is dependent on donations to continue serving its community. It is located at 1499 Queen St. W. in Toronto. For more information on how you can help, please call Jack Martino directly at 416-763-5211 for donations, food drives or great ideas.
