Challenge accepted
It was the north versus the south in Niagara Falls over the weekend as two plazas competed against each other for a worthy cause.
Four stores — Canadian Tire and Food Basics outlets on Montrose Road in the north and McLeod Road in the south — teamed up to see which could collect the most donations for Project SHARE.
“We wanted to support the community,” said Craig Parry, manager of Canadian Tire on McLeod Road.
Joel Ferri, store manager at the southend Food Basics agreed.
“We want to give back to the community and help out during this time of need,” he said.
The Canadian Tire stores collected monetary and toy donations as well as Canadian Tire money. Both stores also raffled off televisions in support of the initiative.
The grocery stores accepted monetary donations and offered pre-packaged bags of non-perishable food items for customers to purchase and donate.
Last year’s challenge raised $25,000, with the northend stores collecting the most donations.
This year, Parry and Ferri were confident the south end would win the challenge.
“Our customers at this end of the city are definitely going to win it for us,” Parry said.
This is the fourth year for the challenge, which marks the kick off for Good News Breakfast Challenge Week, which challenges schools, agencies and businesses to donate to the local food bank.
Niagara Transit picks up and delivers the donations.
Chris Russell, a Niagara Transit supervisor, came up with the idea of the north-south challenge as way to get more people involved in the Good News Breakfast event.
“I approached the stores and they jumped right on board with it,” he said.
The Good News event wraps up Friday with the 28th annual Good News Breakfast at Greg Frewin Theatre.
More than $125,000 was raised last year — in food and monetary donations — all of which benefited Project SHARE’s Christmas program.
“We’re seeing higher numbers for our Christmas program this year so the support we receive from the community is very much appreciated,” said Pam Sharp, Project SHARE's director of community engagement.
Registrations for the Christmas program began in mid-November and individuals or families have until Friday to sign up for the program, which includes a food voucher and gifts for children aged 16 years and under.
Last year, more than 2,000 families received Christmas assistance.
Project SHARE distributes, on average, about 33,740 kilograms of emergency food throughout December, in addition to the Christmas program food vouchers and gifts.
Anyone looking to sponsor a family can visit www.projectshare.ca or call 905-357-5121.