Re: “City council votes to decrease funding to food bank” Dec. 24
Dear editor,
Like many Airdrie residents I was distressed to see that the FCSS funding for the Airdrie Food Bank had been cut by City council.
In the 2009 report to council on FCSS allocations, City staff described the food bank as the service experiencing the most increase in demand. Given our economy, I am sure that pressure has not declined. It is not my intent, however, to question their decision, but to call upon the citizens of Airdrie to show their support for the food bank in a very real and relatively painless manner.
This idea came to me from another member of our community who wishes to remain anonymous, but was also upset by the funding cut.
He, like many of us in this community, recently was advised by Telus that we are to receive rebates of $31.25 early in 2011. Telus gives three options for using the rebate. Firstly, a $100 credit towards buying more product from them; secondly, to donate the money through them to the Alberta Children’s Hospital; or thirdly, to receive a cheque for the $31.25.
His choice was to take the cheque (and I suspect top it up somewhat) and give it to the Airdrie Food Bank. While he fully supports the Alberta Children’s Hospital and the wonderful work it does for all of Southern Alberta, he feels that charity should begin at home and Telus should not get even second-hand credit for our money going to charity.
I would ask that each and every one of us follow his example and in February, when we get those cheques, give them to the Airdrie Food Bank, as I will also be doing, to replace the money they will not be receiving from FCSS.
Sincerely,
Dan Oneil, Former Mayor of Airdrie
