WINNIPEG, April 17, 2013 /CNW/ - (TSX: L) - While Spring means time of
renewal for many; it also means dwindling resources at food banks.
According to Food Banks Canada, every month 63,482 Manitoba residents -
48 per cent of them children - turn to a food bank for assistance.
Grocery shoppers are encouraged to help by donating food and/or funds
to the Extra Helping™ Food Drive from April 19th to May 9th hosted at their local Real Canadian Superstore®, Extra Foods®, and Wholesale Club™ locations.
"Hunger is a constant reality for far too many families in Manitoba. Our
goal is to reduce the need for food bank use by 50 per cent by the year
2020. This campaign is a great way to help us reach our goal," says
Kate Brenner, director of development at Winnipeg Harvest." "The Extra Helping™ Food Drive is essential in helping local food banks replenish their stock and
address the issue of hunger in our communities. And, one hundred
percent of the food raised in the community, stays with the local
community food banks."
According to Food Banks Canada, most needed non-perishable food items
include: pasta products, rice, canned meat and fish, dry and canned
soups and stews, canned fruit and vegetables, flour, hot/cold cereals,
whole grain cereals, peanut butter, aseptic packaged or canned/powdered
milk, fruit juices, pasta sauce, beans and legumes, infant formula and
baby food.
Food banks' most needed items are marked in select Loblaw banner stores
with shelf tags featuring the Extra Helping™ logo, making it easy for customers to help locate them when shopping.
Loblaw Companies Limited and its banner stores hope to raise $1.8
million and 1.8 million pounds of food in 2013.
"As Canada's largest grocery retailer, we're committed to helping fight
hunger in communities across the country," says Peggy Hornell, senior
director, Community Investment, Loblaw Companies Limited. "We encourage
all of our customers to make any amount of cash donation or
non-perishable food items they can, so together we can make a real
difference in the lives of those in need."
Loblaw grocery stores have a long history of supporting food banks in
their local communities. In 2009, the Company rebranded its efforts
under the Extra Helping™ Food Drive, a bi-annual, national campaign to reduce hunger. Since then
Loblaw stores have raised more than $5.6 million and more than 6.3
million pounds of food. In addition, through annual corporate
donations, Loblaw has contributed $1.125 million to date to Food Banks
Canada in support of their National Food Sharing Program.
About Loblaw Companies Limited
Loblaw Companies Limited, a subsidiary of George Weston Limited, is
Canada's largest food retailer and a leading provider of drugstore,
general merchandise and financial products and services. Loblaw is one
of the largest private sector employers in Canada. With more than 1,000
corporate and franchised stores from coast to coast, Loblaw and its
franchisees employ more than 134,000 full-time and part-time employees.
Through its portfolio of store formats, Loblaw is committed to
providing Canadians with a wide, growing and successful range of
products and services to meet the everyday household demands of
Canadian consumers. Loblaw is known for the quality, innovation and
value of its food offering. It offers Canada's strongest control
(private) label program, including the unique President's Choice®, no name® and Joe Fresh® brands. In addition, the Company makes available to consumers President's Choice Financial® services and offers the PC® points loyalty program.
SOURCE: Loblaw Companies Limited
