Farm Credit Canada launched its national Drive Away Hunger campaign Tuesday in Steinbach. Local FCC Relationship Manager Wade Nerbas says the launch coincides with Hunger Awareness Week. This marks the eleventh year for the campaign.
"To date we've collected more than seventeen million pounds of food through FCC Drive Away Hunger," says Greg Stewart, FCC President and Chief Executive Officer. "Hunger is an issue that affects many families in rural Canada." He says hunger touches nearly 850,000 Canadians each month, many of whom are children.
Taking in Tuesday's launch were dozens of students from Woodlawn School in Steinbach. Hank Klassen with South East Helping Hands says it's important to educate them at a young age. 
"We teach them young," explains Klassen. "When you do it at this age they don't forget when they're an adult, that they know what it is to give, that's what we rely on, giving."
This year, FCC Drive Away Hunger tours will take place the week of October 13. So why launch the program in May already?
"We find that we need a lot more time to do this thing right," says Nerbas. He says when they launch the program in fall, they feel very rushed. By getting schools involved already before June, it helps keep the program moving.
Nerbas says the first local event will be the Pioneer Days Parade later this summer when South East Helping Hands will enter a tractor and trailer in the parade, collecting food. He says typically between 2500 and 3000 pounds of food is brought in through that effort. A barbeque will then be held in fall to get things rolling, after which they will do a two day drive, hitting several communities, benefiting seven different food banks. Last year approximately fifty thousand pounds was raised in Steinbach and area. Nerbas explains for some food banks that stocks their shelves for an entire year.
FCC launched its campaign by donating $100,000 to Food Banks Canada.
Wed, May 8, 2:30 PM
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