GBFN GIVES SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR TOP END SPONSORS AT WALLIS PALLET RECYCLING INC., of Midland.

We originally met the GBFN organization looking for a way to benefit our local community. It was just the right time! Our contributions to the organization include many annual service agreements being paid for including, Pest control services for a year, on-site security solutions, our new website creation, and their contributions to this year's turkey drive and Christmas dinner package.  Wallis Pallet Recycling also purchased a commercial fridge for our organization to store nonperishable foods items. We thank you all so much for your contributions and time donated to our organization. 

Wallis Pallet Recycling Inc. has also teamed up with Georgian Bay Food Network for a monthly food contribution allowance to ensure additional quality food items can be purchased for our community. 

Leo Houle and Bob Dolan, friends for over 40 years, have been “neighbors” on opposite shores of Thunder Bay for the past 8 years. Easing into retirement, and relaxing at Georgian Bay, long conversations inevitably turned to how truly fortunate they were, and from there it was a small step to thinking about how they may best help those much less blessed than themselves.  Seven years ago, having concluded that they shared an interest in making targeted, impactful, charitable investments, they became partners and sole investors in the Thunder Foundation.  Until the start of the pandemic, the foundation was primarily focused on providing financial support to disadvantaged youth, helping them achieve their potential. It was quite common for the foundation to take on new ventures, or pilot projects, providing financial support until stable growth allowed them to attract more significant funding.  The pandemic triggered a rethink. As food insecurity became a widespread issue, the potential for entire families to live healthy, productive lives was being negatively impacted more than ever before.  At the same time, Leo, Bob, and their wives, Joanne and Diane, wanted to invest in the Georgian Bay community that had provided so much to their families' happiness and well-being over the years.  These two factors - a growing social issue that was not being adequately funded, and a strong desire to support their adopted community, led them to the Georgian Bay Food Network. GBFN  has become the Thunder Foundation’s sole focus. The rationale is simple:  Critical need - a catchment of 60,000 people that is seriously under-serviced. A well-executed food initiative can have a significant measurable impact on the quality of the whole community.  A start-up organization - GBFN requires a stable source of funding, legal and governance support, and strategic planning to ensure longer-term sustainability and growth. Motivated, capable leadership - GBFN is led by an Executive Director who possesses the extraordinary potential to grow an inclusive, unique, self-serve model for providing food to people who need it. The model is founded on dignity, respect, and human warmth - values shared by a family recognized for community service in Simcoe County for decades. Thunder Foundation thanks the many generous supporters who have contributed to GBFN's extremely successful launch, and look forward to partnering with many other individuals and organizations in the months to come.