Support the 2012 Extra Helping(TM) Spring National Food Drive at your local Loblaw banner grocery store and help local communit

    




 CALGARY, April 19, 2012 /CNW/ - Hunger is a year round reality for many  families. Food banks across Canada are often in dire need to replenish  their stocks during the Spring as the demands during the winter season  has depleted their food supplies. To help, tomorrow Loblaw Companies  Limited (Loblaw) and its banner stores will kick off its 2012 Extra Helping™ Spring National Food Drive to help combat hunger in their communities.  Nationally, Loblaw's goal is to raise $1.2 million and 1.2 million  pounds of food in 2012. 

 In , Alberta starting April 20 to May 5, grocery shoppers are encouraged  to purchase or bring in non-perishable food items or make a cash  donation next time they visit their local Real Canadian Superstore(®), No Frills(®), Extra Foods(®), and Wholesale Club™(West). 

 While most people think about the joys of spring, it's a difficult time  for us. Our food supplies are getting dangerously low but the need is  still incredibly high," says Kathleen Mooney-Stuhec, executive  director, Alberta Food Bank Network Association. "More and more people  rely on food banks as they struggle to feed their families but with the  help of programs like the Loblaw 2012 Extra Helping™ Spring National Food Drive, we will be able to stock our shelves  year-round, and continue to serve families across Alberta that  otherwise would go hungry." 

 One hundred per cent of food donated, and 85 per cent of the cash  donated, go to local Alberta food banks. The remaining 15 per cent of  donated cash goes to the Alberta Food Bank Network Association in  support of provincial food bank programs. 

 According to Food Banks Canada, the most needed non-perishable items  include: pasta products, rice, canned meat and fish, dry and canned  soups and stews, canned fruit and vegetables, flour, hot/cold cereals,  whole grain cereals, peanut butter, aseptic packaged or canned/powdered  milk, fruit juices, pasta sauce, beans and legumes, infant formula and  baby food. 

 "The need for food and cash donations is as great this year as in  previous seasons. As Canada's largest grocery retailer, we need to  support the communities we serve with locally focused efforts like the  Loblaw Extra Helping™ Spring National Food Drive," says Peggy Hornell, senior director,  Community Investment, Loblaw Companies Limited. "We appreciate that our  customers will be a large part of our success in meeting this year's  goal." 

 Loblaw corporate and participating franchise stores taking part in the  2012 Extra Helping™ Spring National Food Drive across the country are: Loblaws(®), Loblaw great food®™, Fortinos(®), Zehrs Markets(®), Zehrs Great Food™, Independent - Your Independent Grocer(®), valu-mart(®), No Frills(®), Extra Foods(®), Dominion(®) (Newfoundland and Labrador), SaveEasy(®), Provigo(®), Maxi(®), Maxi & Cie(®), Wholesale Club™(West), Atlantic Superstore(®) and Real Canadian Superstore(®). A second national food drive is scheduled for December 2012. 

 Loblaw is committed to being active in communities at the local,  regional and national levels where it operates, and the Company views  this as an integral component to the success of its business. The Extra Helping™ Spring National Food Drive is one of Loblaw's corporate social  responsibility principles to Make a Positive Difference in Our Community. The other Loblaw corporate social responsibility principles include Respect the Environment, Source with Integrity, Reflect our Nation's Diversity and Be a Great Place to Work. 

 About Alberta Food Banks Alberta Food Banks is the provincial charitable organization  representing the food bank community across Alberta.  Our member food  banks, and their respective agencies, serve over 80% of people  accessing emergency food programs province wide.  Our mission is to  provide support and leadership to food banks in Alberta in their  efforts to provide short-term relief in the area of food insecurity  while working on long-term solutions for hunger and poverty. 

 About Loblaw Companies Limited Loblaw Companies Limited, a subsidiary of George Weston Limited, is  Canada's largest food retailer and a leading provider of drugstore,  general merchandise and financial products and services. Loblaw is one  of the largest private sector employers in Canada. With more than 1,000  corporate and franchised stores from coast to coast, Loblaw and its  franchisees employ more than 135,000 full-time and part-time employees.  Through its portfolio of store formats, Loblaw is committed to  providing Canadians with a wide, growing and successful range of  products and services to meet the everyday household demands of  Canadian consumers. Loblaw is known for the quality, innovation and  value of its food offering. It offers Canada's strongest control  (private) label program, including the unique President's Choice(®), no name(®) and Joe Fresh(®) brands. In addition, the Company makes available to consumers President's Choice Financial(®) services and offers the PC(®) points loyalty program. 

Loblaw Companies Limited


CONTACT:  Loblaw Public Relations Department(905) 459-2500 or [e-mail] Mooney-Stuhec, executive directorAlberta Food Bank Network Association  (780) [e-mail] 


    

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