4-H can partner to Drive Away Hunger with Farm Credit Canada

As one of Food Banks Canada's Top 10 Food Drives, FCC Drive Away Hunger is making an impact in rural communities across the country...and 4-H can help!

Ten years ago, Farm Credit Canada started Drive Away Hunger.  FCC knew this was something close to the hearts of their customers and employees, and wanted a way to band together to help Canadian food banks help those who go hungry.

Since then, FCC employees and community partners have raised over 11 million pounds of food for food banks in Canada.

This year, until October 18, anyone can make donations of food and cash at your nearest FCC office. Furthermore, 4-H Clubs, Districts and Regions can go above and beyond that and organize their own food drive! In doing so, 4-H can become an official Partner with FCC Drive Away Hunger. To become an official partner each individual club will have to fill out the Letter of Agreement 2013 (by October 9th). For more information or to register as a partner, please email: amanda.wood@fcc.ca.

In addition to feeling great about your contribution, FCC will recognize your club/district/region as a Partner, if you register by October 9th! Partners are essential to FCC Drive Away Hunger.  Your cash and contributions go directly to the registered food bank of your choice and help your community reduce hunger. All donations must be dropped off at the local food bank of your choice and the pounds and dollars raised submitted to FCC by October 20th in order to count towards this year's Drive Away Hunger campaign.

Throughout your campaign 4-H members can use their marketing, community service and public speaking skills to support the Drive Away Hunger! These are valuable life skills that truly set 4-H members apart from their contemporaries. 

This opportunity is also a nice tie into the 100th Anniversary of 4-H Canada Celebrations. The Canadian 4-H Council, as part of their celebrations, has challenged and encouraged all 4-H clubs and councils to make a donation to their local food banks. 4-H Alberta's goal is to raise the most food and funds compared to all other provinces and supporting FCC Drive Away Hunger can help meet that goal!

FCC Drive Away Hunger Tours

Tractor tours will take place the week of October 14 in Alberta, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan, including the FCC corporate office in Regina.

Tractor tours in Alberta will be taking place on the following dates:

• Brooks and Medicine Hat - October 16, 2013
• Leduc - October 16, 2013
• Lethbridge - October 17, 2013
• Stony Plain - October 17, 2013
• Fort Saskatchewan - October 18, 2013

Opportunities for 4-H to help directly with these tours may also be available (i.e. delivering and unpacking goods at the local food bank).

If you have questions about FCC Drive Away Hunger and would like to get involved please email: amanda.wood@fcc.ca or call: 306.780.3865. 

Did You Know?

38 per cent of the over 900,000 people who use a Canadian food bank are children? That's more than 338,000 kids right here at home who regularly have to go hungry.