News Article

Many families have a hard time putting enough food on the table and the holidays are no exception, with thousands of people depending on local food banks for assistance. 
 
College of the North Atlantic (CNA) is once again supporting the CBC’s Turkeys for Christmas Drive with campuses serving as collection points. Members of the public, as well as faculty, students and staff at all 17 CNA campuses throughout the province are encouraged to participate by dropping off a frozen turkey or making a monetary contribution. Each $25 donation represents one turkey. Last year, 6,607 turkeys were collected and distributed to families throughout this province.

Now in its ninth year, this fundraiser for the Community Food Sharing Association and local food banks has become a holiday tradition. The college has established a website to follow the donation totals as the fundraiser advances.

Eg Walters, general manager of the Community Food Sharing Association, says there are over 27,000 individuals in this province who turn to the food bank on a regular basis, with 40 per cent of that number being children under the age of 18.
 
“It is critical that food banks across the province get support this time of year so they can help people through a difficult time,” said Walters.
 
“It’s unfortunate that in a country as prosperous as Canada that we do have food banks but we’ve had food banks for many years and their prime function is to help mom, pop and the kids to put food on the table, not only at Christmas time but the other 51 weeks of the year. The people who use food banks are no different than you or I, and I take my hat off to all those at the campuses of CNA for becoming involved in this very important venture throughout the whole of Newfoundland and Labrador.”

The turkeys collected in each area stay within those communities to help those less fortunate. The turkey drive will run from Monday, Dec. 2 until Monday, Dec. 23 in support of local food banks.

For more information about the CBC Turkeys for Christmas Drive, visit the CBC website at www.cbc.ca/nl. To watch CNA’s progress in the drive, visit the Turkey Tally at www.cna.nl.ca/misc/turkeydrive/. 

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Media Contact:
 
Glenda McCarthy
Public Relations Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
709.643.6408
glenda.mccarthy@cna.nl.ca