Calgary Food Bank: Husky Help the Hungry Week Raises $180,000

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - June 21, 2012) - The Calgary Food Bank is pleased to announce that Husky Energy's annual Help the Hungry food drive raised more than $180,000 in cash and food donations from June 4th to 9^th. The total includes about $150,000 raised in the Calgary area and an additional $30,000 raised in other communities where Husky operates.

Husky has provided leadership and support to the Help the Hungry campaign for four years, with its food drive partners - the Calgary Police Service, Calgary Emergency Medical Services, Western Canada High School and the Calgary Food Bank.

"Husky's Help the Hungry Week is one way we can make a difference in our communities," said Husky CEO Asim Ghosh. "We want to raise awareness of the need, while collecting donations for the Calgary Food Bank and our other local community food banks."

This year, the City of Calgary proclaimed June 4 to 9 as Husky Help the Hungry Week in support of the campaign and its efforts to raise awareness, food and funding for the Food Bank during the summer months when donations are traditionally low.

"The success of this year's Husky Help the Hungry Week demonstrates that Calgarians are working together to create a hunger-free community," says James McAra, CEO of the Calgary Food Bank. "The donations resulting from this campaign will go a long way to helping us put healthy food choices in the fridges of struggling Calgarians."

Husky Help the Hungry Week Highlights

Husky Energy's Calgary employees and retail stations raised $150,000 in cash and food donations during the campaign.

Students at Western Canada High School, Husky's educational partner, raised more than $7,500. Teams competed to see who could design and build the most innovative structure from non-perishable food items, which were then donated to the Food Bank.

Hunger Hero Day at select Husky retail sites across Calgary saw hundreds of Calgarians drop off food and cash donations. Representatives from the Calgary Police Service, Calgary EMS, XL 103, and the Food Bank thanked donors. "This city is full of Hunger Heroes!" said McAra.

Calgary Civic Symphony performed A 9^th for the Hungry to great success, engaging musicians from across the province to present one of the largest orchestras ever assembled in Alberta. More than $2,700 was collected in food and funds from attendees.

Several of Husky's regional offices also supported the Help the Hungry food drive. The Lloydminster Refinery and pipeline group organized a "Give Hunger the Boot" campaign using a manager's work boots to collect cash, while the Lloydminster Upgrader held an event to build a "food wall." Employees at eight other Husky sites collected food and funds for their local food banks.

This release is transmitted courtesy of Marketwire.