EDMONTON — As part of the Purolator Tackle Hunger® program, Purolator employees, Edmonton Eskimos fans and local food bank volunteers teamed up in Edmonton on Thursday, August 2, at the Edmonton Eskimos vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders match-up, to raise the equivalent of 108,270 pounds of food for Edmonton’s Food Bank.

Now in its 16th season, Purolator Tackle Hunger collects food, raises funds and drives awareness for local food banks across Canada. At one game in every Canadian Football League (CFL) city, Purolator organizes a Game Day Food Drive and encourages fans to drop-off non-perishable food items or cash donations in support of food banks in their communities. At Thursday’s game, many Edmontonians made donations or dropped off a non-perishable food item, and took a photo with the Grey Cup.

Last year, Purolator Tackle Hunger raised the equivalent of 1.5 million pounds of food. Since 2003, Edmontonians have helped raise 365,218 pounds of food for families in need.

Purolator Tackle Hunger Game Day Food Drive will be at several CFL games this season, with the Ottawa Redblacks vs. Montreal Alouettes game on Saturday, August 11, coming up next. Since its inception in 2003, the Purolator Tackle Hunger program has helped deliver the equivalent of more than 12 million pounds of food to food banks across Canada.

“Edmonton football fans came prepared to support their team and community. Thanks to their tremendous generosity this year’s Purolator Tackle Hunger Game Day Food Drive raised more than 365,218 pounds of food for communities throughout Edmonton and surrounding areas.”

– John Ferguson, President and CEO, Purolator

“One of the many beautiful things about our community is how we pull together to help one another. As has been the case since Tackle Hunger first began, Eskimos fans rallied once again to help those in need. The Edmonton Eskimos are proud participate in Purolator Tackle Hunger and encourage fans to give what they can to help address hunger in our community.”

– Len Rhodes, President and CEO, Edmonton Eskimos

“Since 2003, Edmonton Eskimos fans and those of our rival team come together to support Edmonton’s Food Bank in an impressive display of teamwork and generosity. We all know that regardless of which team comes out on top, the Edmonton Food Bank is always the winner at the Purolator Tackle Hunger game.”

– Marjorie Bencz, Executive Director, Edmonton’s Food Bank