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Leave it on the step to make a difference: Drive Away Hunger 2025
This Wednesday, a tradition of care that has been happening for over two decades will return to the Pembina Valley. Drive Away Hunger takes place on October 8 in Winkler, Morden, and Altona, and on October 11 in Carman. A tractor and a mission Karen Ferris is the relationship management associate with Farm Credit Canada (FCC), the organization through which the initiative is conducted. She said that the concept, which involves young community members going door-to-door to collect nonperishable foods, began with the vision of one individual in the agricultural community. “It started with one FCC employee in Ontario who literally drove a tractor through rural Ontario, collecting food donations to help local food banks,” she said. Since then, the initiative to fight food insecurity has expanded to various communities. Drive Away Hunger 2025 Ferris said that on Wednesday, there will be representatives from FCC in Morden, Winkler, and Altona to help facilitate the process of collecting food and hygiene products. Members of local youth groups will go door-to-door on the day to collect the items, which can be placed on the doorstep ahead of time for those who wish to participate. Related stories: Drive Away Hunger returns to the Pembina Valley Wednesday night Homemade deli meat to be a feature of Bunker food truck's new plans The collection hours will be from 6:30 to 8:30. In Carman, the day to get involved is Saturday, October 11. Instead of door-to-door collection, FCC will be set up to receive donations in the Co-op parking lot. Ferris added that donations are also accepted at the till in Co-op locations across the Pembina Valley for the entire week. Every bit counts Individuals collecting with Drive Away Hunger are also accepting cheques, according to Ferris. “If you don't have food on hand, those youth groups are also collecting cheques if you [prefer that],” she said. Cheques can be made out directly to the food bank in one’s area, including Morden Caring and Sharing, Winkler Food Cupboard, Rhineland and Area Food Bank, and Carman and Area Food Pantry. ‘It’s hard to put into context when it’s that big a number’ In 2024, Drive Away Hunger resulted in the donation of 514 million meals nationally. For Ferris, the number is difficult to fathom. “It's hard to put into context when it's that big of a number, ... but in contrast to that, there are millions of tons of food that is wasted in Canada every year, and so [we're] intercepting that path and making sure that our food is being put to good use,” she said. "There are people all over our country that need that food to get by to the next paycheque.” To donate directly to Drive Away Hunger online, click here. With files from Ty Hildebrand