Farm Credit Canada holds BBQ fundraiser to support food bank

Farm Credit Canada’s (FCC) Moose Jaw office held its annual Fill the Bucket barbecue fundraiser continuing the Drive Away Hunger tradition that began locally in 2018 and that has been ongoing for two decades nationally.

The barbecue was held at the parking lot in front of the organization’s office building on Oct. 2.

“We held a barbecue today in front of our office,” announced Devonne LaLonde, a relationship manager with FCC who helped organize the event. “It was our Fill the Bucket barbecue to raise money for the Moose Jaw & District Food Bank.”

Founded in 1959, Farm Credit Canada describes itself as “a partner, a catalyst, and a champion” of the agricultural industry in Canada and its mission is to help support entrepreneurs with a belief in the future of agriculture and food. The Regina-based federal crown corporation employs over 2,500 employees across 103 offices. The company provides financing and other services to more than 103,032 agricultural customers.

The company’s Drive Away Hunger campaign aims “to connect the food we produce with the people who need it most,” its website reads.

The campaign began in 2004 with a unique origin story.

“It was an FCC employee, actually, that started the campaign… with a tractor going around collecting food,” LaLonde said. This employee drove around Ontario for eight days and collected approximately 60,000 pounds of food. “And then it has kind of branched out now right across Canada.”

The barbecue continued this employee’s legacy with an onsite tractor supplied by South Country Equipment during the event. The term “Fill the Bucket” is an allusion to the tractor’s bucket which is filled with non-perishable food donations each year.

Last year the campaign provided 143 million meals across Canada and this year’s goal is to surpass that by providing 155 million meals.

The recipient of the non-perishable food donations and cash proceeds was Moose Jaw’s food bank. “Our food bank was expressing that they needed funding or food… because they’re in need this year especially,” LaLonde explained. “So, we wanted to contribute. We decided to put on a barbecue as we’ve done before… (and) we figured this would be a good opportunity to donate again.”

During its yearly campaign, each of the company’s 103 offices are invited to spread awareness and support their community based on its needs.

“As far as the local team, we all live right (here) in the community (and are) raising our families,” said LaLonde. “It’s always good to be present and be involved in community initiatives and help those in need.”

The barbecue fundraiser was also supported by a few of FCC’s partners in the community including the Moose Jaw Co-op who was its major sponsor for food, Young’s Equipment who donated the barbecue and propane, and Hub Meats who provided the locally sourced and prepared meat at a generous discount.

“We weren’t sure how the weather was going to (turn out), but yeah, we’re happy with those who came and supported the barbecue,” LaLonde’s co-worker and fellow FCC relationship manager Laurel Chelsberg said.

“We’d just like to thank the community for supporting us… and of course (our) ag industry partners that put in their orders (or those who) gave cash donations. So, definitely a big shout out to them. It wouldn’t be possible if we didn’t have their support,” Chelsberg concluded.

At the time of the interview the team didn’t have the donations added up, but a tally is expected within the next few days with a national tally to follow. They did, of course, manage to fill the tractor bucket with donations.

Farm Credit Canada’s Moose Jaw branch is located at 1216 Main Street North.