Waste Management Food Drive

February 10, 2010

Edmonton, AB– Waste Management of Canada (WM) together with program partners the Western Hockey League (WHL) and Edmonton’s Food Bank conducted a food at the Oil Kings game February 10th. Fans were invited to show their support for those less fortunate in the community by bringing a non-perishable food item or cash donation to the game.

“This is the very time of year these services are needed most,” says WM’s Diane Kossman, Senior Communications Manager for Western Canada. “Reserves are low after the holiday season but demand remains high and as more Canadians turn to food banks in the wake of the economic recession, donations continue to decline. We’re challenging Oil Kings fans to reverse this trend and support their local food bank.”
WM will be holding food drives in 11 WHL cities over the next few months and hopes to empower hockey fans to raise a total of 10,000 pounds of non-perishable food items and $5,000 in cash donations for local food banks. After only five events, more than 3,800 pounds of food and over $3,000 in cash have been collected, thanks to the generosity of hockey fans. Oil Kings fans can deliver their contributions to volunteers who will be located at main entrances and at a signed table on the main concourse level before the game and during the first intermission.
“It’s wonderful that Waste Management has stepped forward to help Edmonton’s Food Bank,” says Executive Director Marjorie Bencz. “The need for food is every day and year-round. Monitory donations help with operational expenses such as running our trucks and our warehouse,” she says.
Everyone has a role to play in reducing hunger. According to a recent study conducted by Food Banks Canada(HungerCount 2009), almost 795,000 people turned to food banks in March 2009 – an 18% increase over March of the previous year. Well ahead of the national average and the hardest province hit, food bank use in Alberta increased by 61%. In March 2009, almost 54,000 Albertans needed help from a food bank, 43% of which were children.
A proud sponsor of the WHL since 2006, WM has been working to put together a program that will make a positive impact on the communities where our employees live, work and raise their families. Hunger affects everyone across the social spectrum including children, families and individuals, the working and unemployed and those unable to work, those with incomes, pensions or disability benefits who can’t make ends meet are all at risk. At WM we are dedicated to making our communities better, cleaner and safer. A program like this one helps us further that goal.
The WHL was quick to come on-board and work with WM in this campaign to fight hunger on a community-wide scale.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for the Western Hockey League, our Member Clubs and WHL fans to lend a helping hand to communities throughout Western Canada,” says WHL Commissioner Ron Robison. “Our partner Waste Management has developed a terrific campaign to reach out to the community to help restock our local food banks, because no one should go hungry.”
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