The Lethbridge Herald's Food for Thought campaign has been operating for a few years now, but that doesn't mean everyone in the city knows about it yet.
Last week, I received a call from a local business who read about it on the front page of the newspaper, and upon learning about the program's specifics, decided Food for Thought would be one more way to pitch in for the community.
Art Van Gaalen at Investor's Group explained the money the company was donating became available through regional funds given out throughout the year.
"At Investor's Group we support the food bank and do the soup kitchen Christmas Eve dinner every year and we do the Alzheimer Society Memory Walk," said Van Gaalen, who added support for Food for Thought was a natural extension. "So, I thought this kind of fit in well with learning and feeding."
As they say, the cheque is in the mail, as the process of delivering the $985 donation is going through the necessary stages of the corporate pipeline.
It is, however, an example of how word can quickly spread, and how corporate generosity can go a long way towards the benefit of the community.
Every year we see great examples of companies giving back, some on a small scale and some on a very large stage. It's that support which keeps a number of organizations going in Lethbridge, organizations that would otherwise crumble under the ever-increasing cost pressures around us.
Food for Thought, specifically, addresses a very real need in our community. As affluent as Alberta and Lethbridge may seem from the outside, those cost pressures which impact organizations and business also impact families. It costs more and more every year seemingly to get by with those day-to-day expenses, whether it's putting fuel in your vehicle, stocking up on food at the grocery store, heating your home or paying property taxes and utility fees.
With that in mind, there are families in our city in need of help and support, and in turn, there are children who are not getting the proper start to the day from a nutritional standpoint. It's been stated many times how important it is for children to come to school well fed and ready to learn - that's no secret.
Food for Thought funds, directed through Lethbridge's public school district and the Holy Spirit Catholic school division, help local schools target that need and give help where it is needed. The campaign kicked off Nov. 29 and will run until Dec. 20.
Donations can be made between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays at The Herald at 504 7 St. S., or by mail at Lethbridge Herald, P.O. Box 670, Lethbridge, AB., T1J 3Z7. Cheques can be made payable to The Lethbridge Herald Charitable Foundation. Tax receipts are available, upon request, for donations greater than $5.
All donors, unless they wish to remain anonymous, will be recognized in this column, which runs Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays throughout the campaign. If you have a story about your experience with school-feeding programs, challenges or other creative ways you have raised money for this cause, get in touch with me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 403-380-7595, and I'll include it in a future column.
2012 campaign supporters:
Val and Flora Matteotti $1,000
Coleen and Robert Campbell $100
Anonymous $241.40
Robert and Margaret McKeen $20
David Findlay $100
Linda Brandvold $100
In memory of teacher Marjorie Psikla $250
Southern Alberta Professional Development Consortium (SAPDC) in appreciation of LCI staff for sharing their school with us $100
SAPDC in appreciation of Holy Spirit Catholic Schools central office staff $100
SAPDC in appreciation of Lethbridge School District technology department $50
SAPDC in appreciation of Lethbridge School District central office staff $100
Wanda Stuart $20
In memory of Sheila Bartlett $200
Douglas and Sharon Bray $50
In memory of Art, Edna and June $100
Frank Lightbound $100
Anonymous $250
Carol Johnson $100
Gordon and Leona Hopkins $100
Judith Droessler $50
Anonymous $25
In memory of Ivy Pierson $50
In memory of Barb Lanczik $50
Ric and Sharon Swihart $100
Allan and Kerry Morrison $100
Richard Butt and Nancy Grigg $150
Total to date - $30,495.40