The Wynn Against Hunger food drive will run from Monday Feb. 12 to Saturday Feb. 17. People can bring in donations of non-perishable food items to any of the following drop-off locations:
• St. Albert Place
• St. Albert Centre
• Any St. Albert Public School or Greater St. Albert Catholic School in the city
• Servus Place
• Either office of MP Michael Cooper or MLA Marie Renaud
• Love Pizza
• Any regular drop-off bin at grocery stores including Save On Foods, Superstore, Safeway or Sobey’s
ST. ALBERT FOOD BANK WISH LISTPeople can also make direct donations to the St. Albert Food Bank through the following link: www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/st-albert-food-bank-and-community-village.
- flour
- canned tomato products
- canned meats or fish
- dried beans/lentils
- cereals
- canned & powdered milk
- dry soup
- SideKicks
- Hamburger Helper
- fruit cups/pudding cups
- canned fruit
- diapers (especially sizes 5&6)
- pancake mix
- rice
- personal care items
- jam & peanut butter
- pasta sauce
- Kraft Dinner/pasta
- juice boxes
- granola bars
- oatmeal
- juice
- infant formula (Enfamil A+ or Good Start)
- Alpha-getti (kids’ pasta)
As an RCMP officer and a former paramedic, David Wynn cared deeply about the communities that he lived in. It’s fitting that even three years after his tragic passing, a new campaign is ramping up to carry on his legacy of helping people with generosity and compassion.
Wynn Against Hunger is a new annual food drive to help support the St. Albert Food Bank in his memory. It’s a joint effort between Tara McCormick and Debbie Raymond as well as Shelly MacInnis-Wynn, widow of David Wynn.
“This is a good tribute to him,” said MacInnis-Wynn. “I thought this is something that just represents him. He would do anything he could to help anybody. He didn’t judge. Nobody was more important than anybody else.”
She still feels very deeply about how the White Ribbon Campaign (that McCormick and Raymond co-ordinated through their United in Light St. Albert movement) and feels that it’s time for the people to come together again to rally just as ardently around an important cause: helping struggling families.
“It’s something that every single person can help with.”
“From the conception of the White Ribbon Campaign, Debbie and I talked about how we would eventually do something to make it light again, bring his memory into a positive place,” McCormick said.
“In the back of my mind there was always a dream or hope for a positive future that would bring something good together for the community,” Raymond said.
“I feel like the residents that were involved in the United in Light campaign will want to be a part of this. I believe honestly that if Dave was here, he would want us to work towards something whole and pure and good as a community. Because it’s in his memory, I feel like people will embrace this.”
Suzan Krecsy, the executive director at the food bank, said that she is very appreciative of this effort that she calls a “huge undertaking.”
“We really, really appreciate it. We’re honoured that they would think of us. Anything we can do to honour Const. Wynn’s memory is very special too.”
The food bank helped nearly 400 families through the Christmas season.
“This food drive is coming at a good time. Numbers [of clients] are still up, unfortunately. We’re seeing new families still coming on. There’s still some rough times right now. I think that there’s light at the end of the tunnel but the tunnel is still a wee bit long.”
The food drive is set to run from Monday, Feb. 12 through Saturday, Feb. 17 with drop-off points all over the city. Volunteers may be required to do some door-to-door pickups for places such as seniors’ residences. Anyone who lives in a house can also request pickup as well.
If you’re interested in helping, please get in touch with the organizers either through their social media page at www.facebook.com/unitedinlightforever or via email at [email protected].
