Maple Leafs' parent company to help feed Toronto health care workers

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, the parent company of the Toronto Maple Leafs, is helping to create a large-scale meal program for front-line health care workers, their families and community agencies in the Toronto area to face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

MLSE, along with other business partners, plans to deliver up to 10,000 meals a day, with Scotiabank Arena, the home of the Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors of the NBA, being transformed into Toronto's largest kitchen. Its food preparation facilities and the arena floor will be used to prepare and assemble meal packages, put together by MLSE chefs and food and beverage staff, with support from other departments of the company.

The NHL season was paused on March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.

"Scotiabank Arena normally serves as a gathering place for fans to be entertained and cheer on their teams, but today, as the world deals with the overwhelming impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, our arena will serve as a place for people to come together and support our community when it is most in need," MLSE president and CEO Michael Friisdahl said. "In a time of crisis like we are experiencing, many different needs emerge, and we saw this as a chance to use our facilities and engage our people to serve our community."

Second Harvest, the largest food rescue organization in Canada, heading a network of local suppliers and sponsors, will supply fresh ingredients daily, and Scotiabank will open its kitchen facilities at Scotia Plaza in Toronto to further support the initiative.

"We are very proud to be utilizing Scotiabank Arena and the kitchen facilities in Scotia Plaza to feed the most vulnerable members of our community, and care for our front-line health workers as they care for us all," Scotiabank president and CEO Brian Porter said.