Trucks for Change keeps wheels of charity turning

A shipment of donated food from southern Ontario has arrived in Thunder Bay, thanks to an organization which matches trucking companies with charities.

The Trucks for Change Network found a ride for a shipment of food from the Leamington-basedSouthwestern Ontario Gleaners, destined for northwestern Ontario.

• 'Gleaners' send food shipment to northwestern Ontario

The Trucks for Change Network pairs charities that need to transport goodswith trucks that are travelling the same route, and can spare some extra room.

It makes it easy and convenient for companies to donate, or discount transportation, said Pete Dalmazzi, who founded the organization.

The network's greatest reward is hearing from the people who receive the goods when they arrive at their destination, he said.

"To get some of the emails and pictures back about families receiving the stuff and the difference that it makes in their lives is kind of what feeds my energy, and feeds our energy to keep doing this," Dalmazzi said.

The donation that arrived in Thunder Bay was carried for free by Erb Trucking, he said.

But Thunder Bay isn't its final destination.

On Friday, the food will be loaded onto a Wasaya plane, and flown to Sandy Lake First Nation.

CBC's Superior Morning will be broadcasting live from the Wasaya Hangaras that cargo is loaded onto the aircraft, as part of our special Sounds of the Season programming.