The Estevan No Frills location is raising money for the Estevan branch of the Royal Canadian Legion through its annual Give a Little, Help a Lot fundraiser.
No Frills customers can purchase Give a Little, Help a Lot paper icons at store checkouts for $2 until Sept. 9. One hundred per cent of the money will go to the local legion branch.
“We often forget how easy it can be to help others,” said Clifton Krobel, the franchisee for the Estevan No Frills. “No Frills is committed to giving back to the community in which we serve, and to provide resources and support to local charitable organizations.
“The Give a Little, Help a Lot campaign is a great opportunity for our customers to play a bigger part in the community.”
Customers who choose to donate will be given a paper icon to sign. The icon will be posted in the store for the duration of the campaign to acknowledge the customer’s donation.
Krobel said he saw the legion was in need of financial assistance in last week’s edition of the Mercury. The legion was has $16,000 in long-term debt and $8,000 in accounts payable. Both debts carry high annual interest rates.
“It looks like they needed a lot of help right now, so that’s why we went with them as the charity of choice,” said Knobel.
Knobel is not a legion member, but he knows of at least one No Frills employee who is, and he has a friend who is a legionnaire as well.
“They do a lot of things in the community, and you would hate to see that go,” said Knobel. “They’re looking for funds and donations right now, so hopefully what we can raise in the next few weeks can help them out.”
No Frills has been able to help other organizations in the community through Give a Little, Help a Lot in the past, including SMILE Service and the Salvation Army’s food bank. He believes the most they have raised is $2,800, which represents the sale of 1,400 icons.
This year, the goal for all Loblaw Companies Limited corporate stores and franchises is to raise $1 million for supported charities across the country. In a press release, Loblaw recognizes the community needs is greater this year than in previous years.
