Farm Credit Canada’s Drive Away Hunger collected more food this year than any other in its 10-year history. The total of 6.5 million pounds of food represents a 108 per cent increase over last year.
“I’m truly touched by the amount of support in communities across Canada,” said FCC President and CEO Greg Stewart. “The contributions of partners, schools, as well as thousands of volunteers and generous Canadians were crucial to mark our 10th anniversary year where we set a pretty challenging goal of five million pounds of food.”
All 100 FCC offices across Canada collected food and cash donations throughout the duration of the campaign launched in May. As part of these efforts, tractor food collection tours occurred in Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan and at FCC’s corporate office in Regina. FCC also contributed $500,000 to Food Banks Canada and provincial food bank associations, matching donations.
“I commend FCC for bringing the agriculture community together to share the food it produces with those who need it most,” said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. “My sincere thanks to those who contributed. Just like FCC makes a difference for agriculture in Canada, you have made a difference in the lives of others.”
“I’m pleased to announce that we raised 223,701 pounds of food for food banks across Manitoba,” said Darren Howden, FCC Vice-President of Prairie Operations. In Manitoba, over 63,000 people are assisted by a food bank each month and 47 per cent of them are children. “It is always a privilege to travel to various communities and see people helping each other.”
Partners are a major contributor to success. Two Platinum partners were BDO, one of the leading accounting and advisory firms in Canada and TMF Foods Ltd., a value added processor of meat products specializing in fully cooked entrées.
“For the six weeks of the campaign, all of our 105 offices across the country were active in their local communities hosting numerous events to raise money and food donations for Canadians in need,” said Keith Farlinger, CEO of BDO. “At the end of the 2013 campaign, we are pleased to have raised more than 547,000 pounds of food in support of FCC Drive Away Hunger.”
TMF Foods Ltd. was a new partner this year and donated 40,000 kilograms of peameal bacon. The protein-rich meat was distributed to food service agencies across Ontario to assist the 412,000 Ontarians who rely on food banks. “You’ve got to give back to your communities,” said Lou Albanese, CEO of TMF Foods Ltd.
Parrish and Heimbecker Limited (New Life Mills), Windset Farms, Federated Co-operatives Limited, Cargill Limited, Défi-Jeunesse and Solis Foods Corporation were also on board as National partners, playing an important role across Canada in collecting donations and helping FCC achieve its goal.
