The Wood Buffalo Food Bank was able to exceed their goal for the 2019 Syncrude Food Drive.

Over the weekend, volunteers were stationed at various stores across Wood Buffalo collecting donations.

After the three-day event, the non-profit was able to raise over $253,000 and collect nearly 72,000 pounds of food.

However, multiple last minute donations helped them reach their goal of $300,000.

“I am so incredibly proud of our community right now, and how everyone came together once again to support a great cause,” said Dan Edwards, Executive Director of the Wood Buffalo
Food Bank, in a release.

“We understand that the economic climate right now isn’t the greatest, and there are still so many families out their struggling, so any amount of support we receive is greatly appreciated.”

Syncrude did kickoff the event by donating $90,000, the biggest donation by the oil company to the Food Bank since joining as a partner.

In total, they’ve donated over $1 million to the WB Food Bank as part of the Food Drive.

The funds and food raised through the event are expected to account for around 30 per cent of their 2020 annual operating budget and food stocks.