Ontario Federation of Agriculture supports Hamper Program for Renal Department

Since 2014, the renal program at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre has distributed food hampers to hemodialysis patients and their families.  Last year, due to the pandemic, the program was faced with challenges and the organizers had to rethink their approach, so they partnered with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture to secure food donations.

This year, registered dietitians Holly Freill, Marisa Tamasi and Katie Amadeo organized the hamper project, along with dietetic intern Maddy Gilfix.  The group partnered with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture’s Thunder Bay Chapter for a second year to secure donations for the boxes.  The TBFA was able to donate enough food to distribute every hemodialysis patient and their family with a hamper – this year that was 193 patients.

The OFA’s mission is ‘Farms and Food Forever’ and the Thunder Bay Federation of Agriculture (TBFA) is a community group affiliated with the OFA. The TBFA consists of over 100 members, representing primary producers in agriculture and associated businesses.

If you would like to get involved or support the Renal Patient Fund, you can make a monetary donation through the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation over the phone at (807) 345-4673.  There is also an active food bank throughout the year.  If you are interested in running an event, food collected can be directed to the renal department.  To coordinate a donation please contact the Renal Dietitians at (807) 684-6158.