The generosity of Penticton residents broke records this year.
Throughout the holiday season, local community members donated over $11,000 and 575 pounds of food through the 2019 Holiday Food Drive hosted by Loblaw.
Out of all participating locations in the province, the Superstore location in Penticton gathered the highest amount of donations totalling over $9,400 in monetary donations, and contributed to a record-breaking year.
Around the province, shoppers at Real Canadian SuperStore, Real Canadian Wholesale Club and all Loblaw-affiliated grocery outlets donated $210,604 and over 116,535 pounds of non-perishable items, the highest since the drive was started in 2009. For the second year in a row, more than $2 million in cash was donated nationally.
Locally, food and funds will be donated to the Penticton Salvation Army Food Bank.
“We are always so appreciative of the effort and generosity on the part of both store colleagues and their customers,” said manager, John Rankin.
“This effort will help ensure well-stocked shelves for us and for food banks across the province all winter long, and that’s a huge thing for our organizations and for those individuals and families who rely on our support,” he said.
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The holiday food drive initiative ran from Nov. 29 to Dec. 24 and donations were collected for more than 48 food bank locations across the province.
This year marks 10 years since Loblaw’s first national food drive was held. Since that time, stores across Canada have raised $24.8 million for local food banks, with more than $2.2 million of that total raised in B.C. to help community members in need.
“Real Canadian Superstore has a long history of colleague-led initiatives supporting those in need here in British Columbia,” said Penticton Superstore manager, Rick Dunsmore.
“The food drive is a great example of this community support, and we want to thank our customers and colleagues for making the 2019 Holiday Food Drive so successful.”
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