Until January 7, Prairie Toyota is fuelling its second annual food drive to restock Canada’s food bank shelves for the New Year.

With 20,000 lbs. of food collected and donated last year to food banks across the Prairies, Prairie Toyota is looking to surpass that amount by nearly doubling the amount of time allocated to this year’s initiative. Each dealership will make a personal donation of $550 worth of groceries to help meet this year’s goal.

Due to the significant drop in donations (food and cash) following the holidays, supplies at Canada’s food banks are at its lowest between January and April. To ensure 2014 is the year to serve those in need, Prairie Toyota dealerships want to replenish local food banks by collecting donations from now until January 7.

Bruce Smith of Alpine Toyota asks the community of Cranbrook for continued support in this initiative by bringing in a non-perishable food item to their local Prairie Toyota dealership.

“We want to give the public a new perspective on hunger and continue to raise awareness of the need to restock our food bank’s supplies,” says Smith. “At Prairie Toyota, one of our greatest features is the ability to help fight hunger. Last year, we delivered 20,000 lbs. of food across the prairies – this year, we want to feed even more in need.”

According to Food Banks Canada, close to 900,000 Canadians are assisted by food banks every month; nearly half of food banks saw an increase in use in 2013 – a 21 per cent rise in the number of people coming to them for help throughout this year; and, the use of meal programs are 11 per cent higher than in 2012 (40 per cent higher than in 2008).

Consider these local figures from Food Banks Canada’s HungerCount 2013:

Food bank use in B.C. saw a 20.4per cent increase in usage since 2008;

94,002 people in B.C. were assisted by food banks in one month alone;

29.5 per cent of those assisted in 2013 were children.

“We were astounded by the amount of support and participation received during last year’s food drive,” said Smith. “This year, we ask our local community to come together once again and help us feed as many individuals and families in need as possible by restocking food supplies for the start of the 2014 and throughout the new year.”

Anyone who brings in a non-perishable item at a participating Prairie Toyota dealership may enter for a chance to win a 2014 Toyota Tundra ($38,880 MSRP).

About the Food Drive

The Prairie Toyota Food Drive promotion runs from Monday, December 02 —Tuesday, January 07, 2014. Citizens are asked to drop off a non-perishable food item at any of their local Prairie Toyota dealerships between regular operating business hours. Following the drive, Prairie Toyota dealers will drop off all donations to their local community’s food banks. Food Drive Contest details are available at any Prairie Toyota dealership or online at: www.prairietoyota.ca/home

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