Annual Sudbury food drive another food-raiser success

On Wednesday morning, the Edgar Burton Food Drive -- a long-standing holiday tradition -- wrapped up in Sudbury.

Mining giant Vale organizes and coordinates the effort, which was another resounding success thanks to the generosity of the community.

The food drive has grown from a small, workplace effort to one of the largest in Ontario. So big, in fact, that the Canadian Armed Forces step in to help move all the food -- 24,000 pounds over the last three days.

“We pick up from businesses and schools all the way from Worthington all the way out to Levack and Skead,” said Lt. Ryan Cassie, of the Sudbury Irish Regiment of Canada.

“We have been doing this for 25 years now. I think no one can give me an exact date that we started -- it’s become kind of a tradition and because we are able to actually be the manpower and the vehicles out there.”

One more can

Vale backs the massive food drive to honour Edgar Burton, an employee who started it.

“Our goal is always to get one more can than we did last year. So, we are helping more and more every year,” said Owen Marcotte, Edgar Burton Food Drive co-chair.

“I think it’s really just an opportunity for the community to come together and we see it -- everyone knows this campaign is 38 years strong,” added Rachel Meehan, Edgar Burton Food Drive co-chair.

Donation boxes are distributed to businesses and schools.

“Rainbow Schools collected over $60,000 and over 35,000 nonperishable food items,” said Andrew Kendall, vice-principal of Espanola High School.

“It’s a great event because it allows kids to learn about empathy and giving back in their communities.”

It’s also a food drive that helps thousands in need.

“It’s so incredible to see the public outpouring -- the students, just the people that really believe and understand that nobody should go hungry,” said Dan Xilon, Sudbury Food Bank’s outgoing executive director.

“It’s a really important one because it’s one of the top fundraisers for food drives all across Ontario, which we can be really proud of here in Sudbury,” said Natalie Labbee, Sudbury Food Bank’s new executive director.

Officials said items collected during the food drive contribute approximately one-quarter of the annual food requirements for the Sudbury Food Bank.