Mayor Announces Campaign Total for Annual Christmas Food Drive

CALGARY, AB--(Marketwired - January 29, 2016) - At an event to recognize student participation in CANstruction Jr^®, Mayor Naheed Nenshi announced that after over a month of fundraising around the city, a record $777,000 was raised during the 27^th annual Mayor's Christmas Food Drive.

"As much as we all wish we didn't need a food bank, I am proud of how so many Calgarians-from students to my City of Calgary colleagues to many great corporate citizens -- who gave to this important cause," said Mayor Naheed Nenshi. "Our strength, as a community, comes from how we treat our neighbours and fellow citizens, and the success of the 2015 Mayor's Christmas Food Drive puts that strength on display."

Calgary Food Bank CEO, James McAra, explained that "2015 has been a challenging year for many and unfortunately there are more families needing food support as they work through their crisis such as an unexpected illness or job loss. Expenses continue to stretch budgets and now we can ensure that we can provide quality emergency food."

Campaign activities for the Mayor's Christmas Food Drive included:

• The launch event where teams of media and campaign partners searched the aisles of Safeway to gather food items and build a festive CANstruction^®.
• The Cavalcade of Cans was the Calgary Motor Dealers Association's (CMDA) convoy to the Food Bank, delivering the food and funds their dealerships collected.
• Classrooms from various Calgary schools participated in the Fluor sponsored CANstruction Jr^® contest and built unique structures using food items.

Last year, the annual food drive collected $613,000 in food and funds. For more information on the Calgary Food Bank, visit www.calgaryfoodbank.com

2015 CANstruction Jr^® Award Recipients

Best Use of Theme - Mount View School
Team who best incorporated the theme "Back to Nature"

Best Meal - Chris Akkerman School
Incorporating items from every food group. 

Structural Integrity - West Springs School Grade 6
How the pieces come together to create a solid, sound and safe structure. 

People's Choice Award - West Springs School Grade 2
Creation that was the overall favorite of guest judges

Mayor's Christmas Food Drive 2015 Partners:

Association of Alberta Registry Agents
Calgary & District Dental Society
Calgary Board of Education
Calgary Catholic School District
Calgary Motor Dealers Association
Canada Safeway
CANstruction^®
City of Calgary
CUPE Local 38
Federation of Calgary Communities
Fluor

This release is transmitted courtesy of Marketwired.