Dominion® locations continue to support local food banks to help fight hunger
across the province
ST. JOHN'S, April 2, 2014 /CNW/ - Today Dominion® locations across Newfoundland and Labrador announced their Extra Helping™ Spring Food Drive which runs from Thursday, April 3 to Thursday, April
24. Food banks provide our neighbours in need with food essentials. To
help address the need for donations, Dominion®, SaveEasy® and nofrills® stores across the province are calling on Newfoundlanders to donate
non-perishable food items and funds at checkout.
"As Canada's largest food retailer, we believe we have a responsibility
to help in the fight against hunger in Newfoundland and Labrador," says
Mark Boudreau, director, Corporate Affairs (Atlantic Canada), Loblaw
Companies Limited. "We are active in the communities in which we
operate, and with the generous support of our local customers and store
colleagues, this is just one way we can make a real difference for
those in need."
According to the Community Food Sharing Association 26,412
Newfoundlanders rely on a food bank in an average month. Over 37 per
cent of these are children.
"Hunger is a year round reality for far too many families," says Egbert
Walters, manager, Community Food Sharing Association. "The Spring Extra Helping™ Food Drive helps our network of community food banks replenish our stock
and fight hunger in communities across Newfoundland and Labrador.
Adding just one item to the food donation bin or a few extra dollars to
your grocery bill makes a big difference to local families in need."
During the food drive, all Dominion® locations in St. John's and Mount Pearl as well as Kevin's nofrills® in Paradise will collect food and funds directly for the Community
Food Sharing Association for distribution to local food banks in the
city and across the province. In other communities across Newfoundland
and Labrador with Dominion®, nofrills® and SaveEasy® locations, food that is donated locally at each store will go directly
to one or more designated food banks in that community.
What should customers add to their shopping list? According to the
Community Food Sharing Association, most needed non-perishable food
items include: canned soup and stew; peanut butter; canned beans;
macaroni and cheese; dried pasta, noodles and rice; pasta sauce; canned
meat and fish; beans and legumes; canned vegetables and fruit;
canned/powdered milk; breakfast cereal; and baking supplies.
One hundred per cent of food donations and 85 per cent of cash donations
will go directly to local food banks within each participating store's
community, while the remaining 15 per cent of donated cash will support
provincial food bank programs. Thanks to the support and generosity of
customers, in 2013, the Extra Helping™ Food Drive raised more than $1.9 million in funds and over 1.5 million
pounds of food for food banks across the country. Loblaw Companies
Limited and its banner stores hope to raise $1.8 million and 1.8
million pounds of food in 2014.
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 $7.5 million and more than 7.8
million pounds of food. In addition, through annual corporate
donations, Loblaw Companies has contributed $1.37 million to date to
Food Banks Canada in support of their National Food Sharing Program.
Loblaw corporate and franchised stores participating in the campaign
operate under the following corporate and franchise banners: Loblaws®, Fortinos®, Zehrs Markets®, Your Independent Grocer®, valu-mart®, nofrills®, Extra Foods®, Dominion® (Newfoundland and Labrador), SaveEasy®, Provigo®, Maxi®, Maxi & Cie®, select Wholesale Club™stores, Club EntrepôtMC,, Atlantic Superstore® and Real Canadian Superstore® and select Shop Easy Foods® and Super Valu® stores.
About the Community Food Sharing Association
The Community Food Sharing Association is the central collection and
distribution point for over 56 member agencies throughout Newfoundland
and Labrador.
About Loblaw Companies Limited
Loblaw Companies Limited is Canada's food and pharmacy leader, the
nation's largest retailer, and the majority unitholder of Choice
Properties Real Estate Investment Trust. Loblaw provides Canadians with
grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel, general merchandise,
banking, and wireless mobile products and services. With more than
2,300 corporate, franchised and Associate-owned locations, Loblaw, its
franchisees, and Associate-owners employ approximately 192,000 full-
and part-time employees, making it one of Canada's largest private
sector employers.
Loblaw's purpose - Live Life Well - puts first the needs and well-being of Canadians who make one billion
transactions annually in the companies' stores. Loblaw is positioned to
meet and exceed those needs in many ways: convenient locations; more
than 1,050 grocery stores that span the value spectrum from discount to
specialty; full-service pharmacies at more than 1,250 Shoppers Drug
Mart and Pharmaprix locations and more than 500 Loblaw locations;
no-fee banking with PC Financial; affordable Joe Fresh fashion and
family apparel; and three of Canada's top consumer brands in Life
Brand®, no name® and President's Choice®. Through the PC Plus™ and
Shoppers Optimum® loyalty programs, more than one in every three
Canadians are rewarded for shopping with the companies.
SOURCE Loblaw Companies Limited
