Farm Credit Canada’s (FCC) Drive Away Hunger food bank campaign has wrapped up, setting records for the amount of food and funds raised for food banks nationwide.
Every FCC office nationwide took part in the campaign, 100 in total, collecting food and cash donations.
As well as the office donation collection, tractor tours took place in Alberta, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan.
In total, the entire campaign brought in 1.4 million pounds of food and $760,000 in cash.
Locally in Alberta 52,000 pounds of food and $77,025 in cash was brought in.
“They have been doing the Drive Away Hunger for quite some time, and we have been involved for many years,” said Airdrie Food Bank Executive Director Lori McRitchie. “I know that their organization makes feeding Albertans a priority. They commit their organization to making that happen.”
FCC Vice-President of Western Operations Clem Samson said in a press release he is happy with the results of this year’s campaign in Alberta.
“Food collected during the tour ranged from pasta to soup. FCC is grateful to Alberta citizens for the generous help and contributions,” he said. “It is always a privilege to tour through the communities and witness firsthand the enthusiasm shown to those who struggle to put food on the table. We applaud the agriculture community for giving and engaging wholeheartedly once again.”
The Drive Away Hunger campaign began in 2004. Since then, over 9.2 million pounds of food has been collected.
Locally, The Airdrie Food Bank, which serves both Airdrie and much of the surrounding region including Crossfield, said it handed out 102 food hampers in September feeding 302 people, and its Bread and Extras program saw 266 families pick up items feeding 792 people.
“The great thing about that organization (FCC) is that a lot of the funding goes to smaller food banks, some in the agricultural communities in Airdrie and area,” said McRitchie. “Everyone who drops a can or does a food drive is important. We are absolutely blessed by them.”
