THUNDER BAY -- The shelves of the Regional Food Distribution Association are almost empty.
That makes the Performance Kia Drive Change Day food drive all the more timely. “We are struggling at this time,” said RFDA executive director Volker Kromm. “Come next week we’ll be back in purchase mode so if we could get donations that would be great.”
Thursday was the fourth annual Drive Change Day in support of the RFDA and United Way at the Performance Kia dealership on Memorial Avenue. From 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., people can drop off food and monetary donations.
Kromm said while they are happy to get traditional non-perishable food items like canned pasta, soups and vegetables, they’re also looking for other fresh items. “This time of year when the gardens are flush, we’d love to see fresh vegetables come in because quite frankly they are going to support some of our feeding programs,” he said, adding they like to offer local, nutritious food as well.
Last year the event raised more than $20,000 and this year Kromm said they hope to reach that same number. They’re looking to purchase a large commercial-sized freezer for the RFDA.
Performance Kia dealer principal Bruno Niederer said the freezer is needed so the food bank can take large amounts of produce for its clients.
Niederer said Kia empowers all its dealers to do something for the community on Drive Change Day. “We can put ourselves in the (driver’s) seat and make the change we see and want to see in our community and in the world and what we can do better,” he said. “We can move mountains when we put our will behind it.”
Anyone who brings in a dnation call also fill out a ballot for a chance to win some prizes.
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