For the second year, Airdrie Food Bank has announced the launch of its summertime raffle called, “Summer is Hot, Hunger is Not,” to help alleviate food insecurity in Airdrie and its surrounding communities.
As such, the non-profit organization is raffling off a seven-piece large patio set that includes a portable propane barbecue grill and a small four-piece patio set to two lucky winners at noon on July 1.
According to Christine Taylor, marketing and communications manager for the food bank, with a limited quantity available, tickets are going fast. She urged those interested to purchase their raffle tickets as soon as possible, prior to the deadline on midnight, July 1.
“This year, we have two amazing packages we’re really excited about – even better than last year’s,” Taylor said, adding last year’s raffle included the same theme but offered different patio packages.
“Our tickets are $10 each and we only have 1,000, so it’s a pretty good chance [of winning].”
Taylor said the seven-piece patio set and smaller four-piece set would both be beautiful additions to anyone’s backyard oasis.
“[The seven-piece is] super heavy, really beautiful, and [includes] a really neat travel barbecue that has a cart that you can take on wheels – it's really cool,” she said. “The small patio set is a conversation piece and comes with a huge deck box – and those are so expensive.
“This one’s really pretty and you can put all your cushions in it or whatever you need.”
Taylor said one of the reasons the food bank wanted to host its summertime raffle again this year is because a lot of the organization’s donations and giving happen during the winter months around the holiday season.
That sometimes leaves a shortfall for those in need in the summer months.
“We want to highlight that hunger is a year-round thing and in the summer it’s more difficult, especially for families that access food support at school because kids aren’t in school,” she said.
“It’s really important that we highlight that the food bank is busy all year round.”
She added the organization is seeing a 25 per cent increase in the need for food goods compared to last year, and the need is increasing alongside the rising cost of groceries, gas, and utilities.
Last year, the organization fed more than 44,000 people through its programs, according to a press release.
Taylor said money raised from this summer’s raffle will be used toward purchasing the food bank’s most needed items for food hampers this summer.
“We’re finding that people who have never accessed the food bank before are coming and saying, ‘Oh, we never thought we would have to do this,’” she said. “But when you have to decide between rent and food, the food is always your last purchase.
“We really want to highlight – in a fun way – that summer’s hot, but hunger isn’t.”
Taylor added last year’s summertime raffle was a success, and helped to bring awareness to the organization’s mission of alleviating hunger and food insecurity in Airdrie.
“We are lucky we get donated these big products and so [it’s great] for us to be able to share them with our community, but also raise awareness and money for snacks for kids or hampers,” she said.
The draw date for the raffle will be noon on July 1 and those who are interested in participating in the raffle are encouraged to visit the Airdrie Food Bank’s website at airdriefoodbank.com
