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Drive takes checkered flag for food bank

Dawgs Food Drive KC (1)
Lou Pote carries a bag of donated food to the trailer at the Okotoks Dawgs drive-thru food drive in support of the Drive for Five campaign on May 9. The Drive for Five campaign raised $51,013 and 7,400 pounds of food for the Okotoks Food Bank. (Krista Conrad/Western Wheel)

The drive of the Okotoks community to help continues to amaze – despite the fact the executive director of the food bank has seen it time and time again.

“Plenty of surprises since the start of COVID-19, but positive surprises,” said executive director Pamela McLean. “I am blown away by the community support --how much they care about their fellow man, it is truly humbling.”

McLean was further blown away on Monday when it was announced the Drive for Five Campaign eclipsed its goal of raising $50,000 and 5,000 pounds of food during the fifth of month of the year.

The Drive brought in $51,013 and 7,400 pounds of food, McLean announced on June 1.

Not bad for a campaign that went for 27 days – not officially kicking off until May 5 – the fifth day of the fifth month.

The campaign got off to a roaring start when the Rotary Club of Okotoks – the engine powering the drive – donated a $5,000 cheque.

“They did the initial $5,000 seed money and online I could see various personal members from Rotary who also donated that was also awesome," McLean said. 

The club had a lot of help, said Okotoks Rotarian Jeff Foss, the chair of the campaign.

“The Rotary Club of Okotoks is humbled and honoured to be a part of such a great community that even in the times we are in with COVID-19 they step up to help their neighbours,” Foss said.

He said the Okotoks Dawgs drive-thru food drive on May 9 was a highlight.

The Dawgs brought in $3,170 and 4,000 pounds of food.

“To have the partnership with the Dawgs was immense,” Foss said.

He also credited the Okotoks Western Wheel for contributing close to $1,000 and also more in publicity. 

“I don’t think we would have gotten there if it wasn’t for the Wheel helping out and publicizing this each week,” Foss said.

There were plenty of surprises for McLean during the Drive.

One donation was music to her ears, literally.

“The Okotoks Music drive was beyond expectations– not only did we have the blessing of live music again – but they raised over $2,000 and about 1,300 pounds of food, in that two-hour stretch on a Sunday. Those are just little miracles in themselves.

“To be part of this big Drive for Five picture, it is just spectacular.”

The music drive had Okotoks musicians busking on their driveways, porches and garages with their fee being a donation to the food bank.

The Okotoks Royal Canadian Legion also contributed to the drive, with a $1,000 cheque last week.

Not all of the donations were of the four-digit variety. A young teen donated $40 when she went out and held her own bottle drive.

“She walked in and she had $40 cash – it was really sweet,” McLean said.

The Drive for Five result is like hopping in a reliable vehicle for a long trip.

“It gives me tremendous peace of mind,” McLean said. “With COVID-19, I had no idea how we were going to do the fundraisers that we do.

“Our big fundraisers are at the end of the year, and I don’t know if they are going to happen. To have some money come in early, lets us know we can continue operations as we have in the past.

“I want the community to know that this is a tremendous amount of trust they put in us.

“I want to assure them, the money they donate will be put to good use for the rest of the year.”

 

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