Buy a Meal and One Gets Donated to Charity in Canada

A unique charity program dreamed up by three young Canadians has provided almost 114,000 meals to those in need whenever diners eat out at participating local restaurants.

The one-for-one giveaway is like the Tom’s Shoes model. Mealshare gives a free meal every time someone purchases any designated menu item at 84 partner restaurants across Canada. When they do, Mealshare provides a meal to a local hunger charity, at no extra cost to the diner.

Earlier this month Mealshare expanded its reach beyond Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Victoria, Halifax, with the launch of three Toronto restaurants. Cofounders Jeremy Bryant and Andrew Hall said they will have more than 160 restaurants signed up by the end of the year.

The Toronto restaurants are Hawthorne Food & Drink, Khao San Road and Café Belong. You can find a participating dining location by searching on their website, www.mealshare.ca.

“Mealshare’s a no-brainer,” said Shayne Perrin, Owner of Blue Star Diner and Dairy Lane Cafe, the first two businesses to join the program. “It’s a unique way to give back to the community in a way that makes both social and business sense.”

Restaurants only contribute a small amount — about $1 — to the organization for every Mealshare item ordered on their menu.

(READ the story from the Winnipeg Free Press)