A donation of $10,000 from the Burton Family foundation kicked off the Sudbury Food Bank’s annual Edgar Burton Christmas Food Drive, which raises more than 20 per cent of their annual food donations
A donation of $10,000 from the Burton Family Foundation kicked off the Sudbury Food Bank’s annual Edgar Burton Christmas Food Drive, with the gift described by the co-chair of the event as “a perfect statement” of the Burton family’s work to “feed a need that is growing every year.”
Owen Marcotte, member of Steelworkers local 6500 and representative of Vale Base Metals has been co-chair of the food drive for the last 10 years; to him, the donation from the Burton Family Foundation was not only a statement to “the generosity of community” but one that perfectly matched Edgar Burton’s Legacy.
Co-founded by Edgar’s cousin, Brian Burton, and Brian’s daughter, Ashley Burton Rantala, the foundation’s website states their mission is to “nurture imagination and spark creativity in Northern Ontario” through mentorship, community partnerships, workshops, and grants.
Those who’ve lived in the Nickel City for a time will know the holiday refrain of “One More Can,” the motto of the man who began a workplace food drive at his daughter’s behest, and now, almost four decades later, is still filling that need.
A Vale Divisional Shops employee for 36 years, Edgar Burton started the annual food drive when his daughters encouraged him to begin collecting at work. That drive has grown to include other business, schools and community groups, and the campaign is now one of the largest, per capita, in Ontario.
The campaign had its official launch Nov. 21 and will run until the donations are picked up at the participating businesses Dec. 15, 16 and 17, courtesy of the members of the Second Battalion Irish Regiment of Canada with the grand finale happening that last day.
Of course, Xilon said the Food Bank would be more than happy to take donations after that time.
After all, The drive, which has been ongoing for 38 years, raised 90.4 tons of food last year, providing 20 to 25 per cent of the food bank’s annual needs.
The drive was started with two donations, one from the Sudbury Credit Union, which raised $2,000 to donate, and the other, for the first time, a $10,000 donation from the Burton Family Foundation.
Currently, 200 businesses have teamed up with the Food Bank to hold food drives in their locations, and any business that wants to support the Edgar Burton Drive can participate.
In fact, when it comes to food donations, “big or small, we take them all,” is the motto of the Food Bank, said executive director, Dan Xilon at the event.
Taking over his role as of Dec. 1 is Ward 7 Coun. Natalie Labbee, who spoke to attendees of just how easy it is to donate monetarily. This year, every food drive poster you find will have a QR code that will guide you step by step to make a donation.
“It’s that easy,” she said.
You’ll begin to see these posters throughout the city over the next few days, and for more information about donating to the cause or starting your own holiday food drive, visit the Sudbury Food Bank website here.
Jenny Lamothe is a reporter with Sudbury.com.
Dining and Cooking