The 36th annual Edgar Burton Christmas Food Drive was another rousing success, organizers said this week.
“This year’s campaign ran from November through December and is expected to provide the food bank with close to 100 tons of food through both food and monetary donations,” the Sudbury Food Bank said in a news release. “Over $110,000 in monetary donations were collected, of which nearly half came from the Rainbow District School Board and over $10,000 came from Vale employees.”
Edgar Burton was a Vale Divisional Shops employee for 36 years. He started the annual food drive more than three decades ago in his workplace and the campaign snowballed into a community-wide event that includes businesses and schools. It is now “one of the largest per capita food drives in Canada,” the food bank said.
As part of its commitment to the drive, Vale donates the time of two full-time United Steelworkers (USW) Local 6500 members, Owen Marcotte and Garrett Lloyd, for approximately two months to organize the initiative.
“The Edgar Burton Christmas Food Drive is a great opportunity for Vale to contribute to the Sudbury Food Bank,” said Gord Gilpin, director of Vale Base Metals’ Ontario Operations. “We are proud to support this incredible campaign every year to help feed those in need."
This sentiment was echoed by Nick Larochelle, the president of Local 6500.
"United Steelworkers Local 6500 members are proud to be a part of this campaign and follow the example of generosity set by our member, the late Edgar Burton,” Larochelle said. “It makes the difference in the lives of so many.”
The food and monetary donations are much-needed, especially at this time of year, said Sudbury Food Bank executive director Dan Xilon.
"Sudbury Food Bank members, which include food banks, meal providers and specialty programs, all continue to see an increase in first-time users,” he said in the news release. “Every month, the Sudbury Food Bank member agencies programs are being accessed approximately 17,000 times, demonstrating that the need has never been greater.”
