We North Americans surround ourselves with food. We have the blessing of access at any moment. But around the world, 870 million hungry people have no access to good quality food. Conflicts, natural disasters or chronic poverty, have removed that blessing. That’s what motivated area farmer Terry Aberhart and a host of volunteers to plan and host a recent event called the Olde Tyme Harvest for Hunger, in aid of the Canadian Food Grains Bank.

The Canadian Food Grains Bank is one of only two primary agencies the Canadian Government partners with in order to bring food aid to hungry people. In 2011-2012 alone, the charitable agency, supported by funding from Canada, distributed 40, 849 tonnes of food and seeds to 2.2 million beneficiaries in 36 countries.

At the August 24th  event near Langenburg, thousands of people gathered to watch forty-one antique steam threshers break a world record. When area farmer Ken Mack lowered the Canadian flag, men and women started pitching sheaves of wheat. They did so for a full fifteen minutes, smashing the previous record for the number of antique threshers on one field. I was privileged to toss the first pitchforks of sheaves into the threshing machine.

Goodwill and generosity—as well as nostalgia, steam and excitement—marked the day, full of family entertainment. What a great way to celebrate our agricultural heritage and to offer help to those who need it most.

Our government has partnered with the Canadian Food Grains Bank since 1983. We take seriously our responsibility to help those who are so needy outside our borders. We are a blessed country—and sharing blessings is one way to make sure those blessings continue. From 2010 to 2011, Canada provided more than $330 million in funding for food assistance. We also funded 70 international development projects having a nutrition component in 78 countries. In October 2011, that amount increased to $350 million.

Economic Action Plan 2013, reaffirms Canada’s commitment to nutrition and increasing food security. The new Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development will not stray from its mandate of alleviating poverty.

We are in year two of a five-year arrangement with the Canadian Food Grains Bank, where the government multiplies each donated dollar on a four-to-one basis.  This cooperation is vital for hopeless, hungry people to thrive and become strong enough to contribute to their communities and help grow their economies.

On behalf of Mr. Harper and the Government of Canada, I applaud the vision of Mr. Aberhart, his team, and anyone who contributed in any way to make the Olde Tyme Harvest for Hunger the success it was. Your efforts paid off four times. May God bless you, and may God keep Canada sharing its rich blessings with those who need it most.

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The audio version of Garry's September 9, 2013 op-ed column can be heard by clicking here