Alberta Shares provincial program re-launched
In late 2015 the new and improved Alberta Shares provincial donation program was re-launched at a ceremony hosted by the Stratcona Food Bank Association in Sherwood Park.
Her Honour, the Honourable Lois Mitchell, Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta and His Honour Doug Mitchell were on hand for the event, as well as members from the local food bank board, the provincial food bank association board and Save-On Foods stores.
The re-launch came 13 years to the week that the original Alberta Share program was announced by then-Lieutenant-Governor Lois Hole. Now renamed Alberta Shares, this program ensures that food banks have funds to purchase perishable and other nutritious foods for hampers. Donation cards at checkout counters allow consumers to add $2 to their grocery bill. Several times a year the store returns the funds to their local food bank to purchase food in the store. Since its creation, the donation card program has helped us raise more than $600,000 province-wide to support food banks.
Currently, there are 35 Save-On-Foods locations in Alberta which participate in the program. In all, 14 food banks receive regular donations from this program. With the fresh new look, the hope is to revive interest in the program at all the Save-On stores and expand the program even further by announcing the release of a new second card so any food bank can start the program with a grocery store in their community.
Our goal is to partner each of our member food banks with at least one participating store in their community in the next six months. Every month almost 50,000 Albertans rely on a food bank for assistance and programs like this ensure food banks have the funds to purchase items for a balanced and nutritious hamper.
To date, Alberta Shares has generated more than $500,000 for food banks across Alberta.
If you would like to set-up Alberta Shares in your community, please contact the Alberta Food Banks office for more information.
Want to know if a retailer near you is participating? Check out here: www.albertashare.org