Subway Restaurants celebrates World Sandwich Day with charitable donations

In Canada, for every sandwich purchased with a 21oz drink, Subway will donate the monetary equivalent of a meal to Food Banks Canada*, with a goal of providing one million meals to those in need across the country. Image: Subway Restaurants Canada, Twitter

TORONTO -- Building on the success of past National Sandwich Day initiatives, Subway is declaring Friday, Nov. 3, 2017, World Sandwich Day, donating to hunger-relief charities in over 70 countries around the globe.

Also read, New program will supply Quebec food banks with unsold grocery store food.

In Canada, for every sandwich purchased with a 21oz drink, Subway will donate the monetary equivalent of a meal ($0.33) to Food Banks Canada, with a goal of providing one million meals to those in need across the country. In addition to donating a meal, participating Subway restaurants will also give the purchaser a second sandwich of equal or lesser value for free.

"We are passionate about the fight against hunger and are once again offering more than a free sandwich on World Sandwich Day; we are offering a chance to help feed Canadians experiencing hunger," said Cristina Wells, Subway Canada Senior Marketing Director. "Last year we almost doubled our donation target and this year, we're looking to do it again, donating the equivalent of one million meals to Canadians in need."

Based on the belief that no one should ever go hungry, World Sandwich Day will enable everyone to share the joy of eating a nutritious meal with millions of people who struggle with hunger around the world.  

Food bank usage in Canada has been steadily increasing, raising 28 per cent from 2008-2016. As need increases, the food bank network is evolving by expanding their capacity to be able to assist more people in need, and to also offer a wider selection of foods including perishable items like dairy products, meat and fresh produce.

"As demand increases, partnerships with brands like Subway® that value nutritious meals are essential," says Mimi Lowi-Young, acting executive director Food Banks Canada. "Following last year's donation, we were thrilled to hear that the program is being replicated around the globe. This is an incredibly busy time for us in Canada and many countries around the globe face similar challenges in the lead up to the holiday season."

This year's donation will once again be used to support the purchase and distribution of fresh foods through Food Banks Canada's national food sharing program, which supports 550 food banks across the county.

In addition to the meals donated through the World Sandwich Day program, artists will tour the streets of Toronto and Montreal, developing custom murals educating on hunger in Canada and illustrating the partnership between Subway and Food Banks Canada. Subway team members will also join together to help their local food banks get ready for the busy holiday period by sorting food donations.

On World Sandwich Day, a "Live Feed" digital ticker will tally the meals donated in Canada and around the globe in real-time.

SOURCE Subway Restaurants