Weight Watchers members turn weight loss into a giant gain for Canadian Food
Banks

Inaugural Lose For Good(TM) Campaign Collects 75,000 Pounds of Food For Canadians In Need

TORONTO , Dec. 21 /CNW/ - Between September 27th and November 14th , as Weight Watchers members lost weight, Weight Watchers pledged to make a donation, and provide other benefits, valued at up to $50,000 to Food Banks Canada , to help feed the almost 800,000 people who rely on food banks in Canada every month. This donation was part of Weight Watchers Canada's first-ever Lose For Good campaign, designed to encourage Canadians to get healthier while doing good for others. The campaign also aimed to target hunger and obesity at the local level; as Weight Watchers members across the country shed pounds over these seven weeks, they celebrated their success by donating pounds of food, symbolic of their weight loss, to food drives at Weight Watchers locations from coast to coast. An estimated 75,000 pounds of food was collected across the country and donated to food banks within each community, benefiting local residents in need.

"Weight Watchers members are passionate and the amazing results of the Lose For Good campaign are a testament to their spirit and dedication to fighting two significant issues in Canada , obesity and hunger," says Paul Schiffner , General Manager, Weight Watchers Canada .

Members at the Henley Square meeting in St. Catharines Ontario collected approximately 7,500 pounds of food - more than any other location that conducted a Lose For Good local food drive. "I am so proud of our members," says Mary Mach , Regional Trainer for Weight Watchers Canada . "Throughout the Lose For Good campaign there was a steady stream of members carrying in bags and boxes of donations." The Community Care food bank in St. Catharines, which will receive the food donated at the Henley Square centre, distributes 2,000 pounds of food each day.

"The Lose For Good campaign has supported dozens of food banks across the country who are in desperate need and has helped us to raise awareness of hunger at this critical time," says Katharine Schmidt , Executive Director, Food Banks Canada , "We are extremely grateful to all of the Weight Watchers members who donated food at their meetings to help hungry Canadians." Food Banks Canada's Members and Affiliate Members serve 85% of people accessing emergency food programs nationwide.

    
    About Weight Watchers Canada.
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Weight Watchers Canada Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Weight Watchers International, Inc., which is the world's leading provider of weight management services, operating globally through a network of Company-owned and franchise operations. Weight Watchers International Inc. holds over 50,000 weekly meetings where members receive group support and learn about healthy eating patterns, behavior modification and physical activity. WeightWatchers.ca provides innovative, subscription weight management products over the Internet and is the leading Internet-based weight management provider in the world. In addition, Weight Watchers International, Inc. offers a wide range of products, publications and programs for those interested in weight loss and weight control.

To learn more about Weight Watchers services, products and publications in Canada , visit weightwatchers.ca

To find the nearest Weight Watchers meeting location, call 1-800-651-6000 or click on the "Find a Meeting" link at the top of our homepage.

    
    About Food Banks Canada.
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Food Banks Canada is the national charitable organization representing the food bank community across Canada . Our members and their respective agencies serve approximately 85 per cent of people accessing emergency food programs nationwide. Our mission is to meet the short-term need for food and find long-term solutions to reduce hunger. Visit www.foodbankscanada.ca for more information.

For further information: MEDIA CONTACT: Chantal Richard, [phone] ext. 23, [email protected]