Kieran’s Kolossal drive marks 16,000 kg of food over 10 years
The food drive started by a sixyear-old Calgarian is still going strong 10 years and more than 16,000 kilograms of food later.
Social worker Terra Bovingdon took her two sons to commit a “random act of kindness” 10 years ago by dropping off gloves and tuques at the Mustard Seed Shelter. Terra’s son Kieran was so affected by seeing the struggles of Calgary’s homeless that he started coming up with ideas to help the underprivileged.
“He was a bit like a dog with a bone, he wouldn’t let it go,” Terra said.
The Bovingdon family decided to encourage Kieran’s desire to help others and started brainstorming ways he could give a gift to the homeless community.
Before long the idea for Kieran’s Kolossal Food Drive was born and this Sunday marks the 10th anniversary of the event.
Now 15 years old, Kieran said he is amazed by the amount of support the food drive has received from the community. Over the years the drive has helped collect 16,000 kilograms of food for the Calgary Food Bank through nonperishable goods and cash donations.
“The idea started ... snowballing to how we could help them,” Kieran said. “I did not think it was going to get this big.”
The entire Bovingdon family get in on the charitable action through a 50/50 raffle where people can win prizes by guessing the year’s total donations. Terra bakes hundreds of cookies every year for the raffle and Kieran’s dad Sean campaigns for prize donations from local businesses.
Terra said Kieran’s Kolossal Food Drive collects so many donations every year that their garage is filled with food. Terra said the food bank has been grateful for Kieran’s continued acts of kindness, remembering one truck driver who was particularly touched.
“This wonderful delivery guy from the food bank came to pick it up,” Terra said. “I opened the garage door … and his eyes filled with tears.”
After looking back on a decade worth of food drives, Kieran said he is hoping to raise 1,800 kilograms of food this year to bring the 10-year total to 18,000 kilograms. Kieran said Calgarians looking to make a difference should get involved with a charity and turn their ideas into reality.
“It makes me think of how good people are,” Kieran said. “You just have an idea and you have to find a way to put it into action.”
On top of the food items, Terra said every dollar raised by the drive means the food bank can turn it into $4 worth of food for Calgarians in need.
Anyone who wants to make a cash donation in support of Kirean’s Kolossal Food Drive can visit www.calgaryfoodbank.com.
Food items can be dropped off Monday to Thursday between 8 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Fridays between 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 5000 11 Street S.E.