A summer food drive by the Saint John Real Estate Board has raised 2 tonnes of food for food banks in southwest New Brunswick.
Last month, the Board issued a challenge to its membership, after hearing about shortages at local food banks, to come up with 1,000 pounds of food before the end of July.
A friendly competition among the 280 REALTOR® members of the Board generated the first 1,460 pounds of food, and then, on Thursday, July 28, the REALTORS® hosted barbeques at three Atlantic Superstore locations, accepting food and cash donations from the public in exchange for barbequed hamburgers and hotdogs.
“The generosity of the public was overwhelming,” said Barry MacDonald, Chair of the REALTORS Care® Committee, which coordinated the food drive. “People gave by the bag-full, and even by the cart-full.”
About 55 REALTORS® participated in the barbeque events, cooking up food, collecting donations, and circulating among the shoppers in the store to remind them about the food drive.
“We gave out cards indicating what items the food bank is most in need of,” said MacDonald. “We think that made it easier for people to grab the essentials.”
The Saint John Real Estate Board had high expectations heading into the events yesterday, but the end result was a big surprise – once the numbers were tallied up and added to the total amount – when the figure surpassed 4,000 pounds, or 2 tonnes.
“That was four times the goal we’d set for ourselves just a month ago,” said Board President Jason Stephen. “I am absolutely blown away by the generosity of the members of our Board and the members of our community.”
The Board also raised over $1,000 in cash donations on July 28, which MacDonald says will be converted into gift cards for more groceries to donate.
