LAURIE WEIR
The six-week RCL Build a Mountain of Food campaign has ended, but cash and food donations are still coming in.
Jim Wright, one of the event’s organizers, told this publication on Dec. 23 that they continue to receive donations and expect to have final numbers by the end of 2024.
On Dec. 14, the Athens Food Bank and Delta Food Bank were among those benefiting from weeks of community collections. In Athens, $6,745.55 in cash donations and more than 2,200 pounds of food were collected during the morning campaign stop. In Delta, the food bank received $6,100 in cash and just under 2,000 pounds of food.
“It’s been steady across the board,” Wright said. “Pound counts were a little down, but cash donations were higher than last year.”
Wright added that several large donations still need to be factored into the final totals. He highlighted the unwavering support of Hinton Auto Group, which contributed $50,000 to the cause.
Tim Hortons stores in Smiths Falls (three in total) raised more than $9,000 for the Smiths Falls and District Food Bank through their Smile Cookie campaign, while Wills Transfer added another $3,000.
“And we start in Almonte and Carleton Place, and they continue to collect through the campaign, so we still have those numbers to add to the final totals,” Wright said.
He estimated that the campaign has raised well over $150,000 in cash donations for the 11 food banks supported during the BAM road tour.
Final totals will be announced in the new year.
