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By Sheena Roszell

Share It Forward helps local food bank

Jun 14, 2018 | 5:54 AM

This weekend, if you’re picking up groceries at Save-On-Foods, you could help local families in need too. As part of the Share It Forward campaign Friday through Sunday, 25 per cent of the net proceeds of every Western Family product, up to $250,000 ($1500 per store), will be donated to food banks across Western Canada.

What is raised in Grande Prairie will stay at the local food bank. 

Captain Peter Kim, Executive Director for the Grande Prairie Salvation Army and soup kitchen, says they can always use monetary donations.

“That’s always a good thing, if they want to raise money for us.  We can purchase items that we desperately need, that aren’t donated on a regular basis and stuff we run out of,” he said.

Kim says they’ve had a demographic change at the local food bank with people moving here to pursue new opportunities and still needing some help along the way.

He also says the food bank is doing OK today, compared to how things were other years at the same time.  He credits ongoing community support and local food drives like the Rotary Food Drive and Q99’s Stuff-a-Bus.

According to Kim, a good number of the Indigenous population are not accessing the food bank as much after many received Treaty 8 funding from the Federal government.

“The Salvation Army is ready to help and give hope today, regardless of what the situation might be.”

The Share it Forward campaign runs tomorrow until Sunday. The local Save-On-Foods store is also having a BBQ all three days to raise extra money for the food bank. 

“Anyone that supports our BBQ will receive a $1 off any Western Family product, and we will encourage our customers to donate that Western Family item to our food bank. Our Western Family products are partnered with local and Canadian producers and suppliers on more than 1000 items.

We’re passionate about supporting our local communities, our friends, and our neighbours. Supporting local families and our communities have been important to this company for more than 100 years. We have been in Grande Prairie since 2000, and have built so many relationships throughout our community. Our business is food, so it’s a natural fit and something we’re passionate about!

Customers will be able to donate food items, give monetary donations at the till or to any of the Food Bank volunteers that will be at our store Friday and Saturday or donate money at the till using our SHARE  program cards.” – Melissa Gavin, Store Manager, Grande Prairie. 

by Sheena Roszell