Loblaw calls for donations to feed Saskatchewan's 31,000 monthly food bank users

BRAMPTON, ON, Dec. 5, 2016 /CNW/ - Food bank use in Canada has increased nearly 28 per cent since 2008, with roughly 4 million Canadians struggling with food insecurity. Specifically in Saskatchewan, food bank usage continues to increase significantly each year and has increased 77 per cent in the past eight years alone.

This time of year can be particularly stressful with the burden of substantial holiday costs at a time when children who rely on school nutrition programs are spending more time at home.  To help feed those in need, shoppers at Real Canadian Superstore®, Your Independent Grocer® and nofrills® stores are being asked to make a donation of non-perishable food items, or $2, to support local food banks.

"Donations from local stores and food drives are so critical at this time of year. We continue to see more and more people visiting food banks in Saskatchewan each month, with close to half of them children, and we need everyone's support to keep up with demand," said Steve Compton at Regina & District Food Bank. "Generously donating two items or $2 at your local Loblaw banner stores means we can help make their holiday a little bit easier."

Holiday Food Drive donation bins are located in store and cash donations are also accepted at checkout. Cash donations allow food banks to purchase more fresh food and give food banks the flexibility to provide more fresh items that hungry people need, and to purchase other food or personal care products they may be lacking.   

All food donations go directly to local food banks and all cash donations are split between Food Banks of Saskatchewan and local food banks. This year Loblaw's goal is to raise more than $2.5 million and 2 million pounds of food for food banks across the country.

"As the largest grocery retailer, we believe we can play a critical role in the fight against hunger in Saskatchewan," Leila Fenc, Senior Director, Community Investment, Loblaw Companies Limited. "Our customers and colleagues have always been so generous in helping out our communities and we are once again urging them to join us in our effort to provide nutritious meals this holiday season."

Loblaw Companies Limited has been a close partner of Food Banks Canada since 2008 and was awarded Food Banks Canada's Donor of the Year award in 2013.

About Loblaw Companies Limited
Loblaw Companies Limited is Canada's food and pharmacy leader, the nation's largest retailer, and the majority unit holder of Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust. Loblaw provides Canadians with grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel, general merchandise, banking, and wireless mobile products and services. With more than 2,300 corporate, franchised and Associate-owned locations, Loblaw, its franchisees, and Associate-owners employ approximately 192,000 full- and part-time employees, making it one of Canada's largest private sector employers.

Loblaw's purpose – Live Life Well – puts first the needs and well-being of Canadians who make one billion transactions annually in the companies' stores. Loblaw is positioned to meet and exceed those needs in many ways: convenient locations; more than 1,050 grocery stores that span the value spectrum from discount to specialty; full-service pharmacies at more than 1,250 Shoppers Drug Mart® and Pharmaprix® locations and more than 500 Loblaw locations PC Financial® no-fee banking; affordable Joe Fresh® fashion and family apparel; and three of Canada's top consumer brands in Life Brand®, no name® and President's Choice®. Through the PC Plus™ and Shoppers Optimum® loyalty programs, more than one in every three Canadians are rewarded for shopping with the companies.

SOURCE Loblaw Companies Limited

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