Feeding the hungry got a little bit easier this week, thanks to a hefty donations form Thrifty Foods stores and customers in Coquitlam and Port Moody.
Store managers Ray Mattinson and Franco Biehl presented a cheque for $19,547 to Share Family and Community Services director of development Kate Lawrence and assistant manager Heather Stacey Wednesday, Jan. 16 at the Thrifty Foods Coquitlam location. The money will go to run food banks in Coquitlam, Port Moody and Port Coquitlam.
The cheque follows a successful finish to the Thrifty Foods six-week Food For Families fundraiser that ran from mid-November to just after New Year's Day.
"Through Food For Families, our staff and customers in all 29 stores raised a record $274,817," says Jim Dores, general manager of Thrifty Foods. "The program has provided for those in need in our community and we commend those who donated, for their selfless act in providing the gift of fresh food for families during the holiday season."
Running from Nov. 14, 2012 to Jan. 2, 2013, Thrifty Foods customers and staff purchased vouchers and bagged groceries in all 29 Thrifty Foods stores.
"This is an incredible feat, particularly during a tough economic year, that Thrifty Foods customers and staff were willing to share their hard-won dollars and spare food items with neighbours they have never met," says Share chief executive officer Martin Wyant. "It's remarkable and we consider these individuals to be heroes, as are all who support their local food bank throughout the year."
Share supports families in need in the Tri-Cities, Belcarra and Anmore area. Thrifty Foodswas founded in 1977 in Victoria, BC. Today, Thrifty Foods, a banner of Sobeys Inc., has a total of 29 retail grocery stores across the Lower Mainland, throughout Vancouver Island and Saltspring Island.
