Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) is donating $250,000 to food banks in western Canada to support families and communities during the COVID-19 crisis.
The co-operative umbrella group is also giving out 1,250 gift cards to front line workers and volunteers nominated by others in their community.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, May 5, FCL CEO Scott Banda said the Co-op has been on the front line delivering essentials to customers since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Today, in the spirit of the international ‘Giving Tuesday,’ we’re going further by launching Co-op Helps to support individuals and communities across Western Canada as they face the challenges of this pandemic,” said Banda.
“For our first phase of support, beginning this Giving Tuesday, we want to help say thanks to somebody making your life a little easier or a little brighter. Tell us about someone you know that has gone above and beyond to help their friends, neighbours or community during the pandemic and they could receive a $100 Co-op Gift Card. This could be anyone from a frontline worker to someone down the street delivering baking to their neighbours.”
Nominations for the gift cards will be accepted from May 5 to 19 at www.wecare.crs.
“This support is over and above the hundreds of timely and innovative actions local co-ops have already taken and continue to take every day in their respective communities,” said Banda. “With this initial campaign, we just want to say thank you and recognize the individuals that make our communities what they are.”
Through FCL, Co-op is also making a $250,000 donation to food banks in Western Canada. This donation is over an above the annual contributions – nearly 540,000 kilograms (1.2 million pounds) of products in 2019 – FCL makes through its distribution centres. Local co-ops also regularly contribute to their local food banks and offer the Good Buy to Hunger Program for customers.
“As part of Co-op Helps, we’re responding to the immediate challenges at hand and we’re preparing for the future needs of our Co-op communities in the months to come,” said Banda. “We want to be here for communities not only today, but when they start to rebuild after the pandemic subsides.”
In the coming months, Co-op will be looking to help rebuild local communities through additional support for charitable and community organizations, including through the Co-op Community Spaces Program, which has funded more than $8.5 million in local community projects over the last six years.
To nominate an individual or to learn more about Co-op’s community efforts during the pandemic, visit www.wecare.crs.