The 11
th annual CBC Turkeys for Christmas Drive kicked off yesterday and College of the North Atlantic (CNA) will once again provide support by having its 17 campuses serve as collection points from Dec. 7-23.
Members of the public, as well as faculty, students and staff at all 17 CNA campuses throughout the province, are encouraged to participate by dropping off a frozen turkey or making a monetary contribution, as each $25 donation represents one turkey. Last year, approximately 8,500 turkeys were collected and distributed to families throughout the province - 446 of those were collected at CNA.
The CBC Turkeys for Christmas Drive is a fundraiser for the Community Food Sharing Association. Eg Walters, general manager of the Community Food Sharing Association, says there are approximately 25,000 individuals in this province who turn to the food bank on a regular basis.
“It is extremely important that food banks across the province get support this time of year, so they can help people through a difficult time,” said Walters.
“It’s unfortunate that in a country as prosperous as Canada we have food banks, but we’ve had food banks for many years and their prime function is to help mom, dad and the kids to put food on the table, not only at Christmas time, but the other 51 weeks of the year. The people who use food banks are no different than you or I, and I take my hat off to CNA's campuses for being involved in this very important venture throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.”
The turkeys collected in each area stay within those communities.
For 2015, CNA will bring back Turkey Wars, which is an incentive for staff and students to issue challenges to other departments, programs or campuses.
“This year we’re giving CNA alumni and the public an opportunity to participate in this initiative by donating online through our website,” said Glenda McCarthy, CNA’s Public Relations Specialist. “And as an added incentive for staff and students, many of our campus administrators have come on board to challenge other campuses. They’re having fun with it to try and generate as much support as they can.”
To watch CNA’s progress throughout the drive, or to donate online, visit the Turkey Tally at www.cna.nl.ca/events/turkey-drive/.
For more information about the CBC Turkeys for Christmas Drive, visit the CBC website at www.cbc.ca/nl. You can also follow CBC Newfoundland and Labrador’s Twitter account for the turkey drive, @nlturkey or CNA’s account, @CNA_News for updates throughout the drive.
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Media Contact:
Glenda McCarthy
Public Relations Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
709.643.6408
glenda.mccarthy@cna.nl.ca