Media Advisory & Photo Opportunity - CIBC's 'Fill the Fridges' Food Drive Lands at Fort McMurray's Wood Buffalo Food Bank

Media are invited for update on record-setting demand for fresh, healthy food

FORT MCMURRAY, AB, July 28, 2016 /CNW/ - The media are invited to the Wood Buffalo Food Bank on Tuesday, August 2 for a delivery of CIBC's emergency "Fill the Fridges and Cupboards" campaign to help Fort McMurray residents restock their kitchens with fresh, healthy food.

"This is a really important delivery," says Arianna Johnson, executive director of the Wood Buffalo Food Bank. "We've been spending about $9,000 a week on perishable food, so this is absolutely huge for us. CIBC is providing fresh, healthy food to everyone for free – everything from carrots, onions and potatoes to apples, pears and oranges."

"96 per cent of the people who visited us in June had never accessed a food bank before, and two months since Fort McMurray lifted the evacuation order, the demand for fresh food hasn't let up whatsoever," she adds.

CIBC matched $100,000 in employee donations for an emergency food drive to help the people of Fort McMurray to refill their fridges and make the transition home from a month-long evacuation easier. Working with its partner Alberta Food Banks, Team CIBC donated a total of nearly $400,000 to support food banks in need.

WHEN:	August 2 from 12:30 pm to 5 pm. Media should arrive by 12:30 pm.
WHO:	Arianna Johnson, Executive Director, Wood Buffalo Food Bank Stephanie Rigby, Executive Director, Alberta Food Banks Tom Weber, Senior Vice President and Region Head, Alberta, CIBC Jane Sexauer, District Vice President, Alberta North East, CIBC Cecily Clarke, General Manager, CIBC Manning Banking Centre 13 additional CIBC volunteers
WHAT:	Delivery of free healthy food that's available for all Fort McMurray residents and sorting into hampers. Interview opportunities with Wood Buffalo Food Bank, Alberta Food Banks and CIBC representatives.
WHERE:	Wood Buffalo Food Bank 10117 King Street Fort McMurray

SOURCE Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

Image with caption: "Wood Buffalo Food Bank (CNW Group/Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160728_C5194_PHOTO_EN_743494.jpg

Anna Noble, Communications and Development Coordinator, Wood Buffalo Food Bank Association, Tel: [phone], Email: [email protected], See more at: www.woodbuffalofoodbank.com