The annual Loblaws across Canada Easter Extra Helping food drive is scheduled to start March 19 and will run until April 9.
It will be held at the Fergus Zehrs Food Market. Shoppers are asked to donate in support of the Centre Wellington Food Bank. Last year the drive raised around 12,000 pounds of food.
Food Bank manager Fred Aleksandrowicz is optimistic residents will once again step forward and set a new benchmark for donations.
“Last year Zehrs Fergus store set the standard for other Loblaws brand stores to follow,” he said. “During 2009, our Zehrs store came in first in donations right across Canada, even beating stores in larger communities such as Toronto. That is an incredible feat considering its population is significantly larger than Centre Wellington’s.”
This year, shoppers will also have a different method by which to choose their donations. Items most needed by the Food Bank will be clearly flagged in the grocery aisles. Shoppers can then pick the item they want to donate, put it in their cart, pay for it, and then take it to the donation bins.
Zehrs manager Jay McMillan said, “I believe this method will take the guesswork out of knowing what to donate, thus making it easier for shoppers to donate most-needed items.
Food Bank volunteers and Zehrs staff are eager for the start of the drive and all share in the belief that once again, Zehrs Fergus will be the number one donation centre in the Loblaws chain.
Cash donation can can be made at the checkout counter or online at canadahelps.org.
