HyLife Gives Major Holiday Boost and $50,000 to 15 Local Food Banks

The second annual HyLife Holiday Helpers company food drive was hugely successful. Across operations, HyLife employees donated more than 2,400 non-perishable items to local food banks.

In true holiday spirit, the donation deliveries came with a generous surprise twist. Several food banks and a breakfast program will also receive a cash donation, thanks to additional funds from our HyLife Fun Days this past fall. During December, $50,000 will be shared with organizations working tirelessly to make the holidays bright for their neighbours struggling with food insecurity.

“I just about fainted. The HyLife team came in with 300 pounds of food donations. I kept thanking people. Then they said they forgot something, and I thought it was another box of food, but it was just one can. Then I looked and on the can it said ten thousand dollars! My month was wide open. The timing was great as we needed a new refrigerator.”
– Christine Engler, Director, Windom Area Sharing Centre in Windom, Minnesota, USA.

In Ste. Anne, Manitoba, Canada, the funds also came at the perfect time.

“We are registering new clients all the time; people are doing the best they can. Life, gas, rent, and food are so expensive right now. We are hearing all kinds of heartbreaking stories, and so many families are stressed. Our board and volunteers are passionate, and we are getting it done for our neighbours, our community… This is an early Christmas gift. HyLife has been generous towards Accueil Kateri in the past, not just for us but for various non-profit organizations. They are great corporate citizens,” said Armande Leclaire, Manager, Accueil Kateri.

Between the annual employee food drive and monetary donations, HyLife will reach 15 charities in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan and in Windom, Minnesota, USA, including:

• Windom Area Sharing Center, Windom, Minnesota – $10,000 USD
• South East Helping Hands, Steinbach, Manitoba – $8,000
• Neepawa Food Bank, Neepawa, Manitoba – $6,000
• Grunthal Caring Hands Food Bank, Grunthal Manitoba – $2,000
• Accueil Kateri Inc, Ste. Anne, Manitoba – $2,000
• Virden Area Food Cupboard, Virden, Manitoba – $2,000
• Deloraine and Area Community Food Cupboard, Deloraine, Manitoba – $2,000
• Boissevain Food Pantry, Boissevain, Manitoba – $2,000
• Souris and Area Harvest Food Bank, Souris, Manitoba  – $2,000
• Humboldt and District Food Bank, Humboldt, Saskatchewan-$ 2,000
• Minnedosa and Area Food Bank Inc., Minnedosa Manitoba – $2,000
• Gladstone Community Food Cupboard, Gladstone, Manitoba- $2,000
• Carberry Food Cupboard, Carberry, Manitoba – $2,000
• Killarney School Breakfast Club, Killarney, Manitoba – $2,000
• Killarney Food Bank, Killarney, Manitoba – Food donations. This organization also received $40,000 this past fall from HyLife Fun Days

“Being a food company, we feel committed to supporting those who work to ensure no one goes hungry. HyLife is proud of our employees who feel empowered to give what they can. Wrapping up the donations with cheques worth $50,000, thanks to our generous partners, is the perfect way to embrace the season of giving.”
– Sheldon Stott, Senior Director of Corporate Sustainability, HyLife, while delivering food donations and an $8,000 cheque to South East Helping Hands, in Steinbach, Manitoba.

While the special deliveries were made to different food banks, each group expressed the same increase in community needs. In Grunthal, Manitoba, the Caring Hands Food Bank is determined to keep up with demand.

“We are going one month at a time. Every little drop will, over a length of time, help fill the bucket. We are thankful and will put this new donation to good use. One of our big focuses is the kids, supporting our schools to buy snacks and ensure the youngest are not going without,” said Carol Boonstoppel, Grunthal Caring Hands Food Bank.