CAPITAL FOOD BLITZ AN UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS

MPP Yasir Naqvi and Volunteers Collect Over 61,000 Pounds of Food for the Ottawa Food Bank

The Ottawa Food Bank’s 5^th Annual Capital Food Blitz held this past weekend at local Metro and Loblaws stores is a remarkable success story. Scores of volunteers handed out distinctive paper bags throughout the weekend for customers to consider filling with much needed items listed on the bag while they went about their regular shopping.

While last year’s Capital Food Blitz collected 12,000lbs of non-perishable food items, this year the generosity of the public and the hard work of volunteers saw donations rise five-fold to 61,000lbs of food for needy families in the Ottawa Community.

Organizers are quick to point out the tremendous contribution of time and energy by volunteers from the Ottawa Food Bank and individuals across the city, as well as the support and participation of local politicians including MPP Yasir Naqvi.

As Co-Chair of the Capital Food Blitz, and an active supporter for the last four years, Yasir issued a challenge earlier this month for all elected officials in Ottawa to come out and support the Blitz and to bring volunteers for the massive effort.

The Ottawa Food Bank supports more than 130 food programs throughout the National Capital Region, and provides 40,000 people each month with emergency food support – 40% of whom are children. The ongoing support of the community, and high-impact events like the Capital Food Blitz, help them send out 12 tons of food from their Michael Street Warehouse every working day.

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“Summer is usually a very difficult season for the Food Bank, but hunger doesn’t take a holiday,” said Peter Tilley, Executive Director of the Ottawa Food Bank. “That’s why we are so pleased with this years’ blitz bringing in such an impressive amount of assistance for families in need.”

“After spending Saturday and Sunday collecting donations, I can safely say that Ottawa is the most generous city in Canada,” said local Ottawa Centre MPP Yasir Naqvi. “I am so elated with the outcome this year that I am already looking forward to doing everything possible to make Food Blitz 2010 an even bigger success!”