Food drive uses Halloween for donations

Oct 19, 2012 | News

By Stacey Thompson

Kids across Canada can trick-or-treat for a good cause. BY STACEY THOMPSON

This Halloween, Canadians can combine trick-or-treating with a good cause.

Children can collect and adults can hand out their yearly mound of candy in addition to non-perishable goods.

Free the Children – an organization geared to helping youth to become agents of change – has teamed up with Campbell’s for its annual We Scare Hunger campaign.

This is their 12th year Free the Children has put on such an event and the first year Campbell’s has gotten involved.

“By participating in the campaign, students not only make a tangible contribution to their communities, but also become knowledgeable advocates for change,” Kate Likely, director of youth and educational programming at Free The Children, told Humber News.

We Scare Hunger is meant to mobilize youth around local hunger issues, she added.

According to Free the Children, the use of local food banks in Canada has risen 20 per cent within the last 10 years.

Last year, almost 300,000 youth were involved in the campaign – donating over 830,000 pounds of food to their local food banks, Free the Children said in a press release.

Likely said the goal this year is to collect one million pounds of non-perishable food items.

Food banks are grateful for all donations received.

“Community food banks across the country absolutely appreciate the efforts of individuals who actively help to raise awareness food and or funds to support them,” said Marzena Gersho, director of communications and national programs at Food Banks Canada.

Gail Nyberg, executive director of Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto, said she appreciates the support given.

“The fact they are coming together to support local food banks is great, we are really appreciative.”