Challenged to collect more than 1,500 lbs.

WELLINGTON – Oct. 2, 2015 – Again this year, residents of the Evangeline and surrounding areas will have the opportunity, from Oct. 13-21, to help their less fortunate neighbours by contributing non-perishable foods to a local food drive. They’re being challenged this year to surpass the 1,500 pounds they contributed last year.

Organized on the occasion of Co-op and Small Business Weeks, this drive will seek to help fill the shelves of the Salvation Army Food Bank in Summerside. This organization of course serves clients from all over East Prince, which includes the Evangeline area.

According to bank management, the need for food contributions is being felt more and more each year, especially as the fall and winter months approach. Hard economic and social condition means that a growing number of Islanders simply don’t make enough money to feed their family. They therefore have no other choice but to turn to social assistance agencies.

Wanting to help turn this situation around, several partners from the co-operative sector in the Evangeline area have jointly decided to organize this drive again this year. They are offering a few prizes to incite people to contribute to the cause.

Anytime from Oct. 13-21, people from the community are invited to drop off non-perishable foods to Wellington Co-op or to Evangeline-Central Credit Union. Or, they can bring their contributions to Le Chez-Nous home during its Oct. 13 afternoon social.

Each person who gives a food donation will get a ballot towards a draw for a $100 gift card from the Wellington Co-op. Food donation bags, provided by Farm Credit Canada, are available to be picked up at the co-op or credit union.

On the morning of Oct. 21, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, people are invited to come to the Wellington Co-op to try to help fill up a small car with groceries. The Mazda CX-5, which belongs to the PEI credit unions, has been nicknamed the YuMob; it’s easy to identify thanks to all its markings.

A food collection contest is also being organized at Evangeline School; the class gathering the greatest volume of food will win a $100 prize.

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CUTLINE 1: The annual food drive for the Summerside Salvation Army Food Bank will take place this year Oct. 13-21 in the Evangeline and surrounding regions. Officially launching the drive are, from left, Diane McInnis from Évangéline-Central Credit Union, Angèle Arsenault from the Conseil de développement cooperative and Rick Arsenault from Wellington Co-op.

CUTLINE 2: The YuMob car, which belongs to PEI credit unions, will be at the Wellington Co-op the morning of Oct. 21 so that locals can try to stuff it with groceries for the Summerside food bank.

 

For more information:

Angèle Arsenault
President
Conseil de développeent coopératif
(902) 854-2951