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By Curtis Galbraith
Community

A&W, Mealshare partnership to help feed Grande Prairie area youth in need

Feb 3, 2021 | 7:00 AM

Local A&W locations are joining others across Canada in a new partnership with the non-profit group Mealshare.

The partnership will see healthy meals provided to youth in need here in Grande Prairie, and across the country, for every Mealshare purchase at A&W.

Mealshare’s Shree Govindarajan says they hope to provide 1.25 million meals to Canadian kids through this new arrangement.

“It’s our goal to end youth hunger in our lifetimes and we realized that it takes a lot to build partnerships with independent restaurants in major cities, and that adding a chain like A&W would be a great way to further our reach and our scope.”

She says historically, Mealshare has worked with independent operations and smaller chains.

Mealshare is supporting the Grande Prairie chapter of the Breakfast Club of Canada. Govindarajan explains why this group was chosen.

“We look for charities that have a good community hub and good impact in their community and also have a food component, so Breakfast Club of Canada in Grande Prairie really fit the bill.”

She adds this includes what she describes as a “buy one, give one model.”

“So, when patrons go into a Mealshare partner restaurant, and they choose the Mealshare item on the menu, they get their food like normal, but on the back end, our partner restaurants provide us with funds that we distribute to partner charities that then provide meals for youth on our behalf and on the restaurant’s behalf.”

A&W customers can help the cause by buying a Cheddar Bacon Uncle Burger Combo on Mealshare Mondays, or any day by saying “Make it a Mealshare” to add $1 to their order.

by Curtis Galbraith