Food Bank’s Annual Syncrude Food Drive receives huge community support this year

(Fort McMurray, Alberta) – The 27th Annual Syncrude Food Drive and Corporate Challenge took place this past weekend with the goal of raising funds and food donations for families across the Wood Buffalo region, ensuring no one goes hungry this winter.

The Syncrude Food Drive began with the Corporate Challenge on Thursday, November 28th with Syncrude kicking off the Corporate Challenge with an increased pledge of $90,000 live on radio stations Country 93.3 and Rock 97.9. Everyone was then encouraged to call in and donate throughout the day. Several organizations called in their donations throughout the day between 7am to 7pm to show their support for our city in this continuously challenging time. $209,915 was raised on-air that day, successfully kicking off the annual event.

The Corporate Challenge was then followed by the Syncrude Food Drive from Friday, November 29th, to Sunday, December 1st. Wilson generously donated all 10 trucks stationed at the local grocery stores and Wal-Mart, and the Wood Buffalo Food Bank (WBFB) van was at the Anzac Grocery Store. Over the three days the Food Drive raised an additional $43,782 in monetary donations, and 71,520 pounds of food. An anonymous donor dropped off a $10,000 cheque during the Food Drive, which was an incredible surprise and helped with increasing the total raised.

The weekend saw just over 500 smiling volunteers in front of stores and in the warehouse, many of them filling in last minute when the call-out was made. “We want to give a special shout-out to all of the amazing volunteers who helped out this past weekend, especially those who took on multiple shifts and those companies who brought their entire teams out,” says Anna Noble, Communications and Development Manager. “The response to our post on Friday morning about needing volunteers was incredible. Over the course of a few hours those spots were filled, and on Sunday we had several extra people at stores because everyone wanted to lend a hand.” The WBFB would also like to give thanks to WB Volunteers for partnering with their new system and assisting with volunteer recruitment and management, they look forward to continuing this partnership for future events.

On Monday the WBFB got word that CNRL was also pitching in $40,000 to the campaign, and when Andrea from Pheonix Heliflight heard the Food Bank was just short of their fundraising goal she put forward $6,500, bringing the grand total of the 2019 Syncrude Food Drive and Corporate Challenge to $300,197 and 71,520 pounds of food. Thank you to everyone who donated.

“I am so incredibly proud of our community right now, and how everyone came together once again to support a great cause,” states Dan Edwards, Executive Director of the Wood Buffalo Food Bank. “We understand that the economic climate right now isn’t the greatest, and there are still so many families out their struggling, so any amount of support we receive is greatly appreciated. We were pleasantly surprised with the outcome and thank everyone who pitched in to help make this event another success.”

A huge thank you to the sponsors; Syncrude for being the Title Sponsor, H. Wilson for the use of their trucks, Keyano College for the use of their vans and drivers for volunteer appreciation, Hertz for the use of their SUVs and cube van, Top Knotch Doors for their help doing pick-ups and for their grocery bags, Shell Place for supplying coffee and hot water, SNF Mining and Aptim for joining as bag sponsors this year, and of course Rock 97.9 and Country 93.3 for being the media sponsor and helping spread the word about the event. Words cannot express how grateful the Board and Staff of the Wood Buffalo Food Bank are of the support received.

A list of the 2019 Syncrude Food Drive and Corporate Challenge sponsors will be found on the Wood Buffalo Food Bank’s website: www.woodbuffalofoodbank.com.

About the Wood Buffalo Food Bank Association

Established in 1983, the Wood Buffalo Food Bank Association provides programs and services that provide the resources and education necessary to ensure food security for all citizens in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. For more information, visit www.woodbuffalofoodbank.com