Every province in Canada has a different culture and flavour. And just as varied are the ways our supporters engage with Canadian Foodgrains Bank across the country.
Ontario
Before Christmas, the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) hosted a matching donation campaign for its members to celebrate a new partnership with the Foodgrains Bank. Any donation made to the Foodgrains Bank as part of the Giving Tuesday campaign was matched by CFFO dollar for dollar, up to $10,000. In the end, CFFO was overwhelmed by the generosity of its members and increased its original matching commitment to $15,000, bringing the campaign total to $48,510.
Manitoba
The Killarney Livestock Auction raised funds to help with relief efforts for Haitians affected by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck on August 14, 2021. The idea came from Nancy Howatt, who found she had oat straw to spare. She wanted to auction it off to farmers in need to feed their cattle in the midst of a drought year and then donate the proceeds to the Foodgrains Bank’s Haiti appeal. Her idea ended up spurring on a group of 11 farmers who donated straw and some corn sillage sold at the auction. In the end, they raised more than $15,000 for Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund’s account with the Foodgrains Bank.
Saskatchewan
For the eighth year in a row, Jake Doerksen and his family hosted an old-time threshing bee for the community of Carrot River. Using antique threshing equipment, the event gives some of the older farmers a chance to shine as they showcase how pioneers brought in the harvest. A lunch of homemade Mennonite farmers sausage is served to those who give donations. The event raised almost $1,700 for the Foodgrains Bank via Carrot River Mennonite Church.
British Columbia
In Surrey, B.C., grade 12 student Siena van Tol spent months in her automotive class diligently restoring a vintage 1977 Honda motorbike with a new battery, tire tubes, fuel switch and filters. Her attention to detail paid off when the motorcycle was auctioned off for $1,300 in the Make a Difference Sale in Abbotsford contributing to the $289,355 raised at that event.
Alberta
An hour west of Fort Kent, the Northeast Growing Project works to raise awareness and funds for the Foodgrains Bank’s development work. One of the creative ways they do this is by auctioning off a silver
shovel every year. The highest bidder gets their name engraved on the shovel, and they get to keep it in their business, church or home for the year. The money from the shovel auction goes towards the group’s annual donation to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, totalling over $650,000 in the past 23 years.
This story was featured in the 2022 Annual Report. Download or order your copy here.
