Loblaw on track for record-breaking food drive campaign

To date Loblaw has donated more than $1 million and 323,000 pounds of food across Canada during the Extra Helping Food Drive, and is more than halfway to achieving its 2014 goal of $1.8 million and 1.8 million pounds of food.



Newfoundlanders have helped to replenish food bank supplies in the province with $27,721 and 26,940 pounds of food donated by customers and colleagues at Dominion, SaveEasy and nofrills stores across Newfoundland and Labrador during the Extra Helping Spring Food Drive of 2014.



"Newfoundland food banks feed an estimated 26,412 people each month — more than 9770 of them are children," said Egbert Walters, manager, Community Food Sharing Association. "Loblaw's food drive helps keep the shelves of food banks across the province stocked with healthy choices all year long."



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 $8.5 million and more than 8.1 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.



"Year after year our customers contribute food items or add a few dollars to their grocery bill to ensure that people in their community have enough to eat," says Peggy Hornell, senior director, community investment, Loblaw Companies Limited. "It's because of this generosity that we can set the ambitious goal of raising $1.8 million and 1.8 million pounds of food, and know that it's within reach. Our spring food drive gets us more than half of the way to our annual goal, and gives us great hope for our holiday drive."



Loblaw's Extra Helping Holiday Food Drive kicks off in December 2014 at Dominion, SaveEasy and nofrills stores in communities across Newfoundland and Labrador .