Toronto, ON – For the fifth year, IATSE partnered with Food Banks Canada for the “Every Plate Full” Challenge, which aims to raise food and funds for hungry Canadians during the summer months, when donations tend to slow down. Over the month of May, twenty participating IATSE Locals donated over $103,000 to the campaign, bringing the five-year total to over 1.25 million meals.

With every dollar raised translating to three meals, the goal this year was 300,000 meals nationally. Each local was invited to participate, and Food Banks Canada partnered participating Locals with a food bank in their area of the country. Each IATSE Local team captain set up a donation page on the Every Plate Full website so that members could donate directly to their Local’s total.

The IATSE is proud of how our members have embraced the cause and thrilled that, once again, we smashed our national goal. We would like to recognize IATSE Local 873 for the most donations (with 70), as well as the largest single donation (of $12,000). Most improved giving went to IATSE Local 856, who got an earlier shout-out for being the Local that pushed us over the One Millionth Meal mark. The highest contribution came from IATSE Local 212 (at $26,277), and for the third year running, IATSE Local 580 claimed highest per-member donation (averaging $80.13 per member). Thank you once again to stellar employer F&D Scene Changes Calgary, who came in at $6,848, and to The Directors Guild of Canada – Alberta District Council, who joined us in fundraising for the first year ever.

International Vice President Damian Petti, who acts as the IATSE’s Every Plate Full National Team Captain, stated, “We are so appreciative of the time and effort that goes into this campaign each year – from members, Locals, and employers. Within the labour movement and outside it, we are stronger together.”