Farm Credit Canadas “Drive Away Hunger” is stopping in Lloydminster to collect food and cash donations.
The event uniquely drives a tractor and trailer through some communities to pick up donations for local food banks. The FCC has been doing the food drive for 15 years. Manager of Business Development Gary Reimer says the goal is to bring the agriculture community together to share food with people who need it the most.
“To get involved in the schools, getting in front of the kids and showing them the passions for AG. Teaching them how agriculture is a great industry as well as how ag can help move hunger forward so that we can start having not too many people starving.”
The FCC has 11 offices set up across Canada taking part in the event. The program started in 2004 when an employee took it among himself to go around collecting. Since then the event has provided 40 million meals. Reimer says this year the collection in Lloydminster and area will be done with a truck and trailer courtesy of AG Land.
“It depends on the community. Because we’re our driving so far to other communities, the tractor doesn’t make sense driving down the highway. We are trying to be cautious of holding up traffic as well.”
On October 11, the FCC will be stopping at E.H. Walter School in Paradise Valley, Edgerton Public School and the Wainwright Battle River Foodbank. On October 12, the food drive will stop in Lloydminster to collect at Queen Elizabeth School, Co-op, MNP LLP, Redhead Equipment, Moody’s Equipment and the Salvation Army.
Businesses and schools can get involved next year by reaching out to their closest FCC office. Reimer says 860,000 people will use the food bank this year and 36% are children. That’s why FCC finds it important to raise awareness at schools. The FCC also helps local schools with the School Food Program.
“Each office picks a school that they want to donate a $1,000 to for their food program. We try to move that around the community or see which school needs it most.”
