Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest raises nearly 68K meals for food bank

Through the Thanksgiving Monday parade and a variety of other events, Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest has raised nearly 68,000 meals for the Food Bank of Waterloo Region.

The annual Bavarian festival in Waterloo region regularly collects food and donations for the food bank. This year, that has included setting up collection at different events as well as encouraging people to donate money online.

The parade alone raised $6,853.20 and 9,725 lbs of food.

Alfred Lowrick, executive director of K-W Oktoberfest Inc., says they're proud the Onkel Hans Food Drive has raised enough to cover 67,896 meals.

Wendi Campbell, CEO of The Food Bank of Waterloo Region, said the donations will make "a big difference in the lives of the 34,552 people in our community struggling to put food on the table."

She says that's how many people were served by the Community Food Assistance Network of Waterloo Region, which is made up of a number of local agencies and groups to provide food to people in need.

Donations are still being accepted online through the food bank's website.