Lakeland Ford Drives Community Support for Local Food Bank

In a concerted effort to combat hunger in Prince Albert, Lakeland Ford has launched a successful food drive campaign, aptly named “Fill a Ford.” Over the past few weeks, the dealership has transformed its showroom into a collection point for non-perishable food items, aiming to support local food banks and address the growing needs of the community.

The “Fill a Ford” initiative is part of a global movement that encourages car dealerships to collect food for local food banks. According to Brad Thibaudeau, general manager of Lakeland Ford, thousands of dealerships worldwide are participating, with the ambitious goal of collecting more than one million pounds of food by October 6.

In collaboration with the Prince Albert Food Bank, Thibaudeau identified that canned protein items, such as tuna, ham, and chickpeas, were in high demand. “We contacted the Food Bank here in town, and they told us canned proteins were what they needed most,” he explained. To encourage donations, the dealership urged staff to contribute and partnered with Lake Country Co-op to offer pre-packed bags of food at the store. As an incentive, customers who purchased these bags received a $20 service voucher as a token of appreciation.

The community response has been overwhelmingly positive, with both Lakeland staff and customers stepping up to donate. “The community came together, and we’re very proud of everyone who helped out,” Thibaudeau stated.

The timing of the campaign is particularly critical, as Kim Scruby, executive director of the Prince Albert Food Bank, highlighted that the fall season marks one of the busiest periods for the organization. Demand for food assistance has more than doubled since Scruby took on his role in 2017. “When I first started, we were doing about 700 to 750 hampers a month. We’ve been as high as 1,400, and right now we’re averaging between 1,100 and 1,200,” he noted.

Scruby attributes the increased demand to rising living costs, including rent and utility bills, which leave many families struggling to afford groceries. “The only thing they can really cut back on is groceries, and that’s why we see them here,” he explained.

Funding for the Prince Albert Food Bank is a significant challenge, with only 18 percent of its budget coming from government sources. The remaining funds are sourced from individuals and local businesses. Scruby emphasized the importance of community partnerships, stating, “Business partnerships like this are huge. It’s the support of the local community that keeps us going.”

Thibaudeau reiterated the importance of initiatives like “Fill a Ford,” emphasizing that they serve not only to collect food but also to raise awareness about hunger in the community. “At the end of the day, campaigns like this remind people that there are a lot of people who are hungry,” he said. “Regardless of how they got there, we have a duty as Canadians to make sure they get a chance to eat.”

Donations are still being accepted at Lakeland Ford until the end of the campaign, allowing the community to continue supporting this vital cause.