Loblaw Spring Food Drive

For many Canadian food banks, temperature and donations are closely linked. As the thermometer rises in spring, donation volumes fall, but the monthly demand for their food remains high throughout the year. To help feed those in need this spring, customers are being asked to make a donation to their local food bank at Real Canadian Superstore, City Market, Your Independent Grocer, nofrills and Wholesale Club stores. If every British Columbian donated two items at their local store today, it would meet the traditional demand on food banks until July so stores are asking customers to share a picture of their donation using #donate2items in an effort to get the entire province involved.

“During the spring many families continue to grapple with food insecurity at a time when the volume of donations trend towards an annual low,” said Katharine Schmidt, Executive Director, Food Banks Canada. “Hunger is a year-round issue so we want to encourage everyone to stop by their local Loblaws or Real Canadian Superstore today to make a contribution.”

Spring Food Drive donation bins are located in store and cash donations are also accepted at checkout.

Here’s a list of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society’s most-needed items this season:
•Protein – canned fish, meat or beans
•Natural peanut butter
•Whole-wheat pasta and rice
•Pasta sauce
•Wholesome meals in a can – hearty soups, stews or chili
•Canned fruit and vegetables
•Healthy / low sugar cereal
•Juices – natural fruit and vegetable
•Infant formula and diapers

Food donations go directly to local food banks while cash donations support local food banks and Food Banks BC. Since 2009, Loblaw customers donated more than $9.9 million and 10 million pounds of food to food drives across Canada. This spring Loblaw plans to raise more than $1 million and 500,000 pounds of food by the campaign’s end on April 9.

“Whether it’s putting healthy food on our customers’ plates or in hampers for food bank users, we believe we have a responsibility to help all Canadians live life well,” Peggy Hornell, Senior Director, Community Investment, Loblaw Companies Limited. “If everyone in British Columbia donates just two items at one of our stores today we will meet the traditional demand on food banks until July.”*

Loblaw Companies Limited has been a close partner of Food Banks Canada since 2008 and has been recognized with their Judges Award of Distinction in 2011, Award of Excellence in 2012 and Donor of the Year Award in 2013. Since 2008, Loblaw provided $1.5 million in support of the National Food Sharing System, a food acquisition program that ensures food is distributed to food banks across the country.