A door decal for the Toonies for Tummies campaign welcomes grocery store customers.
Sherwood Park, AB. — Two Sobeys in Sherwood Park have raised $10,500 for Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) students across the Division during a campaign called Toonies for Tummies.
Toonies for Tummies is a charitable campaign which sees participating grocery stores in Western Canada, Ontario and Atlantic Canada help raise money for hungry children. Grocery stores collect toonies from their customers and send 100 per cent of the proceeds to students in need. “We can’t thank the Sherwood Park Sobeys locations and their customers enough for their generosity,” says Laurie Borle, an employee at Elk Island Public Schools who coordinated the Division’s participation. “Sobeys has always offered support wherever possible—they’re truly a pillar in our community and their passion for helping children is second to none.”
Donations from Sobeys Nottingham and Lakeland have been distributed to 24 schools—the funds will be used to buy healthy snacks and meals, in addition to supplementing nutrition programs already in place. “This money will be used to fuel students’ bodies and minds, so they can do their best learning,” says Borle. “We’re proud to partner with Sobeys on this campaign and on many other nutritional initiatives.”
Other initiatives Sobeys has supported include:
- Second Harvest programs
- Taste Testers
- Snack Attack
While grocery stores participate in the campaign, the Grocery Foundation oversees the administration of Toonies for Tummies. “We believe that no child should go to school hungry,” says Shaun McKenna, the Executive Director at the Grocery Foundation. “Unfortunately, it is estimated that as many as one in three children are at risk of going to school on an empty stomach. The campaign raises much needed funds for these children, supporting over 3,000 student nutrition programs across Canada. Something as simple as a toonie can provide a breakfast for a child and set them up for success that school day and beyond.”
Individuals can donate to the Toonies for Tummies campaign either online or in-store. See the Grocery Foundation’s website for when different grocery retailers are accepting in-store donations.
Elk Island Public Schools is one of Alberta’s largest school divisions, serving approximately 17,460 students in 43 schools. We are proud to be an integral part of our communities, including Sherwood Park, Fort Saskatchewan, Vegreville, Strathcona and Lamont counties, and the western portion of the County of Minburn.
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For more information contact:
Laura McNabb, Director, Communication Services, EIPS 780-417-8204 cell 780-405-4902