Farm Credit Canada's Drive Away Hunger campaign has been running for the past ten years. Since that time it has collected 9.2 million pounds of food and $760,000 in Canada. The organization recently held a barbecue and food drive at the Yorkton Co-op as part of the program.
Toby Frisk, district director of Farm Credit Canada in Yorkton, says that the initiative is something which FCC is dedicated to across the country.
"We're raising funds and awareness for a great cause, and that is feeding the people in Canada who need to be fed, and there is a great need for that."
All of the food and money raised in Yorkton stays in the city, Frisk notes, with contributions going to the Salvation Army Food Bank and The Soup Haven. People could buy pre-assembled bags of food which is needed most, Frisk notes, and that would go to local people who are in need of that support, as well as cash donations or buying a hot dog and a drink.
Frisk says that he believes this program is necessary to meet the large needs of the community. He notes that the Soup Haven feeds over 300 kids daily, and says that hearing numbers like that confirms that there is a great need to support these programs.
The greater goal of events like this is right in the name, to drive away hunger, and Frisk says that the event is a small part of a much larger national goal.
"It's a national event that really drives awareness of the food bank system in Canada, the need and we do a lot of raise food and dollars for the cause."
In the fall, FCC will be doing a Drive Away Hunger tour, which takes a tractor and trailer to different locations to collect food and donations.
