The Wood Buffalo Food Bank (WBFB) will be without volunteers for the upcoming Annual Syncrude Food Drive this month.
The team made the announcement following discussions with event partners and Alberta Health Services.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the WBFB prepared a backup plan should health restrictions impact program delivery.
Dan Edwards, Executive Director of the WBFB said the food drive will go ahead with staffers and board members.
“We want to thank everyone who had signed up to volunteer this year, and to our event partners who were on board until the decision was made. While this was a very hard choice, we want to ensure that we are doing our part in the community to keep everyone safe, and we look forward to next year when hopefully we can all come together again.”
In 2019, the Syncrude Food Drive raised at least $300,000 towards the WBFB.
READ MORE: Annual Syncrude Food Drive exceeds $300K goal
The goal for the 2020 Syncrude Food Drive and Corporate Challenge is 80,000 pounds of food and $300,000 in monetary donations.
This year’s food drive begins with the Corporate Challenge on Nov. 26 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Country 93.3 and 97.9 ROCK.
Listeners may phone-in or donate to the food bank online.
Last year’s Corporate Challenge generated around $252,500.
Communications and Development Manager, Anna Noble said the Syncrude Food Drive will follow from Nov. 27 – 29 at participating local grocery stores and Walmart.
“The community is encouraged to donate throughout the weekend as usual, and the WBFB team will be constantly going around to collect these donations. The only change will be the lack of smiling faces of volunteers in front of the Wilson trucks handing out bags and lists.”
Noble said residents may drop off donations at collection bins, which will also have secured cash cans for gift cards and monetary donations.
New for this year will be an online donation option on the WBFB website.
Participants may also download needs lists from the website, social media platforms, and posted at participating stores.
Since the spring, clients from an average of 50 new households per month access WBFB services.
