Frozen Food Bank Fundraiser wraps up

Sunny South News Photo by Heather Cameron DUNKED: Reeve Tory Campbell getting dunked as part of the Frozen Food Bank Fundraiser in support of both the Coaldale Food Bank and the North County Interfaith Outreach Society in Picture Butte. Reeve Campbell is smiling and saying a last prayer before falling in the cold water.

By Heather Cameron
Southern Alberta Newspapers
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Frozen Food Bank Campaign raised approximately $2,300.
From November 1 to 30, Lethbridge County worked together to feed the hungry after Reeve Tory Campbell launched the Frozen Food Bank Fundraiser Campaign on November 1 to benefit the Coaldale and Picture Butte Food Banks.

“Just in having some candid conversations with people at the food banks; the demand is definitely there. They’re trying to make ends meet as far as providing the food for those people seeking it, but I think the challenge is real. There’s a lot of people hurting right now, so my hat’s off to the food banks for what they’re able to do.”

Campbell said that Lethbridge County encouraged people to try and donate money or non-perishable food donations to the Coaldale and Picture Butte Food Banks with the caveat being that if you donated, you could enter your name on a ballot to be drawn to dunk the Reeve.

“It helps the families in Coaldale for sure,” said Brad Coleman, Treasurer for the Kinsmen. “That’s basically what we’re around for, is to help the family make sure the community’s good and everything else.”

The opportunity for donors to actually dunk the Reeve came on December 7 in the parking lot of the Lethbridge County Building.

Before the dunking took place, Reeve Campbell offered some highlights about the donations to those in attendance, saying that the Town of Coaldale donated $500, and then Coaldale Town Council stepped up to match that, making the donation $1,000. Mark from UFA donated $500 to the Picture Butte Food Bank, Campbell said. And on top of that McCain was also gracious enough to donate some frozen products to the food bank. Campbell also thanked everyone else who donated.

“I think we all know that times aren’t the greatest; times are tough,” said Campbell. “So anything that we can do to try and help those in need is tremendous.”

Some of the donors that got to dunk the Reeve were Rodney Stone of McCain Foods, Dwayne Sterm, and Coleman.

“It’s just a great opportunity to help out the local charities,” said Stone.