Food For the Forces charity drive brings in $5K, pounds of groceries

Josh Toney didn't know how many people would see his plea when he uploaded it to the ether of the Internet.

What he did know was that after hearing another desperate plea a call for donations from the Veterans Food Bank he had to act.

So Toney grabbed his smartphone, clicked on the camera and crafted a 56-second video asking Calgarians to bring donations to the Walmart parking lot on 130th Avenue S.E. Sunday afternoon for an event he dubbed Food For the Forces.

• 10th annual Veterans' Food Bank fundraising campaign on until Nov. 15

"I need your help to fill this trailer," he said in the video while standing in front of a six-metre utility trailer.

"They're extremely low this year. They need a lot of extra help. Please come by, say hi, drop off a donation. Please. Our veterans have done so much. Let's help them out with a meal."

His video worked. Calgarians turned up in droves, includingCalgary Hitmen Booster Club members who brought Toney a cheque for $550, collected at Saturday's home game against the Swift Current Broncos.

The event raised $5,000 in cash. Donations also filled aseven-metre trailer,a one-ton cube van and half of another six-metre trailer.

"A lot of families and a lot of veterans are affected," said Toney on what drove him to help.

"A lot of younger veterans too, that people seem to forget about, those veterans in the oil industry all over Alberta who are affected and can't make ends meet."

Donations up in recent weeks

Donations have jumped in recent weeks since officials with Veterans Food Bankannounced they are in desperate need of food and money, said manager Marie Blackburn.

"It still makes me teary-eyed most days when I see people going overboard to just do what they feel is the right thing to do," she said.

"So I appreciate everything Josh has done, and everybody else."

Toney said he plans on making the fundraiser an annual event.

Donations can also be made to the 10th annual Veterans Food Bank campaign until Nov. 15.Financial donations can be made online to theCanadian Legacy Projector mailed to 210 - 1235 17th Ave. S.W.,T2T 0C2.

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