CALGARY FOOD BANK

The Calgary Stampeders are proud to be involved in several annual initiatives in support of the Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank.

One of the featured programs has been in effect for nearly 20 years as the Be a Fan, Bring a Can event invites fans to bring non-perishable food items for collection at the Labour Day Classic.

“The Labour Day Classic food drive continues to play an important role in our goal of not letting Calgarians go hungry,” said Kristen Brown, development coordinator of community initiatives with the Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank. “It has been a great partnership and we appreciate their effort.”

The Be A Fan, Bring A Can food drive is led by wives and girlfriends of Stampeders coaches and players. They station themselves at the McMahon Stadium gates on Labour Day, wearing their significant other’s jersey and collecting the food and cash donations.

“This is a great initiative that brings the Stampeders football club and the community together to provide something substantial for the Food Bank,” said club spokesperson Peni Hufnagel, wife of head coach/general manager John Hufnagel. “I’m proud to be involved with the program.”

In addition to the food drive, the Stamps and Homes by Avi combined for a Chili Cookoff in 2009. Stamps fullback Rob Cote, Peni Hufnagel, the QR77 broadcast team, the Stampeder Outriders and members of the media all put their chili recipes on the line and fans tasted and judged the chili in exchange for a non-perishable food item contribution or a $2 donation.

The 2009 events, sponsored by Homes By Avi, brought in more than $48,000 worth of food and cash contributions. The all-time collection of food items and cash donations stands at approximately half a million dollars.

The Stampeders are also supporters of a second food drive during the season — the Purolator Tackle Hunger event. The 2009 edition of the annual food drive, held on Aug. 8, resulted in the collection of a record 49,550 pounds of food.

According to the Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank, 87,212 Calgarians used the Food Bank to fill the basic need of food last year. Of those, 43 per cent were children. Last year, the drive raised $28,968 in food and cash donations, which increased the 17-year total to nearly $353,000. Including the success of this year's edition, the total now stands at approximately $425,500.

For every dollar raised the Food Bank can distribute four dollars worth of food.