Atlantic Superstore collecting food and cash for local food banks

One of the simplest ways to help feed hungry people in the community this holiday season is during a regular grocery shop.

The Holiday Food Drive is on now through Dec. 24 at all Atlantic Superstore, nofrills and Your Independent Grocer locations across the province. Donations made in the food collection bins or at the checkout at all locations will directly benefit members of local communities, and help put food on their tables this holiday season.

“The Holiday Food Drive at Atlantic Superstore is one of the key campaigns that we and our member agencies across the province rely on,” said Nick Jennery, executive director of Feed Nova Scotia, “not only to help see us through the holiday season, but for months to come.

“Every single donation truly makes a difference in someone’s life.”

In Truro, Atlantic Superstore is supporting the Colchester Food Bank Association and the Truro Salvation Army.

Donations of healthy nonperishable items such as peanut butter, canned meat and fish, soup, canned vegetables, cereal, pasta, rice and beans are ideal to contribute as they make hearty, nourishing meals.

For more than 850,000 Canadians, one-third of whom are children, holiday menus at Christmas dinner tables are determined by what food is available at their local food bank. At least 44,000 Nova Scotians make use of their local food bank every year. It’s also possible to make cash donations.

This year, the goal of the Holiday Food Drive is to raise $1.8 million and 1.3 million pounds of food for food banks across Canada.