Steelworkers' $65K makes early Christmas for Food Bank

Christmas came early for the Sudbury Food Bank on Wednesday with a $65,000 donation from the United Steelworkers Local 6500.

The Steelworkers will distribute the funds to the food bank over the next three years to help support those in need in the community.

Dan Xilon, executive director of the Sudbury Food Bank, said the funds will help support the food bank's milk program, which distributes around 94 tonnes of milk to community partners each year.

“This will ensure that program continues to help the less fortunate in our community for the next three years,” he said.

The Steelworkers donated the funds directly to the food bank's Edgar Burton Christmas Food Drive.

Burton was a dedicated volunteer with the food bank, and also worked for Inco, and later Vale, for 36 years, where he organized an annual food drive.

He passed away on July 9, 2010.

“I'm very impressed the community still remembers him year after year,” said his widow, Sharon Burton.

The Sudbury Foodbank renamed its annual Christmas food drive in Burton's honour in 2010.