“Food banks have told us how Drive Away Hunger has transformed their ability to feed hungry families and we think we can do even more to help,” said FCC president and CEO Michael Hoffort in a release announcing plans for the 18th edition of Drive Away Hunger.
“FCC has the national reach to bring Canada’s agriculture and food industry together like never before for a cause that is close to all of us. The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us there’s a very fine line between those who have the means to pay for food and those who don’t, since personal situations can rapidly change,” Hoffort said. “Whether our partners are growing, producing, processing or distributing food, we see an opportunity for them to help us replenish the shelves in food banks in both rural and urban communities.”
This year, Drive Away Hunger hopes to collect food and cash donations equivalent to the cost of providing 20 million meals to hungry Canadians. Since 2004, FCC employees, customers and community partners have provided over 85 million meals to food banks in Canada.
Locally one initiative was a collection of food at the recent the Yorkton Regional High School ‘Friday Night Lights’ football game. The effort saw volunteers gathered 1100 lbs of food and $457.15 in cash from those taking in the game. Both the food and cash will be donated to The Soup Haven in the city.
Along with raising money and food for Canadian food banks, FCC is once again contributing a total of $200,000 in support of food programs offered at 200 schools selected by FCC offices across Canada based on need. Half of that contribution will be directed towards schools that serve Indigenous children, as part of the federal Crown corporation’s reconciliation efforts. Each school is receiving $1,000 in support of their feeding program.
