For Immediate Release: October 2, 2013
Ottawa Food Bank’s Thanks for Giving Food Drive kicks off this weekend
Help feed local families in need
(Ottawa, ON) – The Ottawa Food Bank’s annual Thanks for Giving Food Drive will kick off this Saturday in stores across Ottawa. Volunteers at participating Loblaws, Metro, Superstore, and Your Independent Grocer locations will be handing out food donation bags and encouraging shoppers to donate their family’s favourite non-perishable and nutritious food items. Food donations are then distributed by the Ottawa Food Bank to its 140 member agency food programs across the City, to help those in need.
This food drive comes at a time when the Ottawa Food Bank needs to restock its shelves the most. The food from the Thanks for Giving food drive, which runs the first two weekends in October, ensures there is sufficient food for those in need as the holiday season begins.
Last year, the Thanks for Giving Food Drive raised a record breaking 300,000 pounds of food over three weekends. This year, as the need for food support continues to rise, the importance of giving is even greater in an effort to help fight community hunger.
Most-Needed Items include:
- Canned Pasta (Spaghetti, etc.)
- Canned Meats, Stew and Tuna
- Cereal (Whole Grain)
- Juice Boxes
- Macaroni & Cheese
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Rice
Volunteers needed!
Those interested in volunteering are asked to register online at volunteer.ottawafoodbank.ca.
The Ottawa Food Bank is the Region’s central food assistance organization. Through its 140 member agencies, the Ottawa Food Bank helped 48,000 individuals last month, 37 per cent of whom were children. On average, 12 to 14 tons of food is shipped from its Michael Street warehouse each and every weekday.
-30-
