Grocery stores’ fundraising campaign for ‘hidden hungry’ collects $32,000
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A three-week campaign to raise money for people who cannot afford healthy food has netted more than $30,000.
The Island Food Caring campaign, a collaboration of five local grocers — Fairway Markets, Thrifty Foods, Country Grocer, Red Barn Market and the Root Cellar — and the Victoria Foundation, raised $32,112 and awareness of the estimated 50,000 people in Greater Victoria who are considered the “hidden hungry.”
The money is earmarked for the Food Rescue Project, an initiative of the Mustard Seed and the Food Share Network, which recovers and redistributes healthy, fresh food to food-insecure communities in the region.
“Our team feels incredibly honoured to be working with other local grocers on the Island Food Caring campaign, “said Russ Benwell, owner of Red Barn Markets. “We have a passion for providing our customers with the freshest local products and we are proud to be part of a network that ensures all members of our community have access to healthy food. Particularly during the uncertain times we are currently living in — fresh food for all is more important than ever.”
Despite the chaos in some grocery stores over the last few weeks with panic buying, social distancing and limits on both items and customers in stores, shoppers donated at the tills in each of the grocers as well as the program’s website (islandfoodcaring.ca).
“We are in uncharted territory in the grocery business, but have been uplifted by our customers’ amplified commitment to community during this difficult time for everyone,” said Daisy Orser, co-owner of The Root Cellar.
The Food Rescue Project was launched in 2017, thanks to $200,000 in funding by the Victoria Foundation and The Rotary Club.
More than 55 organizations participate in the project, distributing fresh food to more than 35,000 people in the capital region.
The program recovers up to 4,550 kilograms of fruits, vegetables, and dairy products every day from the grocery stores and redistributes them six days a week. It diverts more than 1.4-million kilograms of food from the landfill annually.
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