YORKTON - The ‘No More Holiday Hunger Food Drive’ was a huge success with a recent presentation of $20,950.
The donation of food and money was a co-operative effort of Yorkton Hyundai, NL Construction Inc. and Yorkton Concrete.
Asked what made the campaign so successful, Kimberly Hamilton, general sales manager with Yorkton Hyundai said it was a community wanting to help.
“I think it was the awareness of the need in the community,” she said.
It was recognizing that need which actually led to the fundraising initiative.
Hamilton said she and Nicole Campbell from Yorkton Concrete were talking a year ago about “how much need there is in the community,” and that the situation has become more extensive in the ensuing months, so the idea to help out took root.
Ron Kaban, principle owner at Yorkton Hyundai next spoke to Dustin Nehring of NL Construction. It was a natural they jump on board considering Nehring’s nickname when with the Yorkton Junior ‘A’ Terriers was ‘Bus’, so it was really Bus aiding the Love Bus.
From there it became a group effort, said Hamilton.
The support this year went to the ‘Love Lives Here Bus’. The bus delivers food and other items to those needing some help in the city each Friday, and the donation will help cover the costs to operating the service, from stocking items to hand out, to fuel and maintenance of the bus.
Support grew as people learned more about the ‘Love Bus’.
“It’s an outstanding program,” said Hamilton, adding it operates not just at Christmas time but is there year round supporting those needing some help in the city. “. . . They put work into it all year.”
Support came from many sources, including Yorkton Hyundai staff, Drake Meats arriving one day with a donation of 15 cases of ham steaks, and the Yorkton Kinsmen Maulers Hockey Club taking donations at one of their hockey games.
“The amount of local interest . . . People wanting to step up for this was absolutely incredible,” said Hamilton.
Support also included; Westland Insurance, Mulder Farms, Lakeview Insurance, Kinsmen Club of Yorkton, YAC Auctions, Remax Blue Chip Realty, KM Auto Care, Oak & Olive Beauty Co., St. Mary’s School, Kondratoff Persick LLP, Kinette Club of Yorkton, Sage Pharmacy, South Forty Spray Foam, and J-Mack Sandblasting.
