ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Inspired by the way people in St. John's and neighbouring communities picked themselves up and helped each other following last month's massive blizzard, a Toronto company decided to pitch in and lend support with a big monetary food bank donation.
In a news release Wednesday, the City of St. John's announced Third Eye Capital donated $75,000 to the Community Food Sharing Association.
Eg Walters, general manager for the association, said it’s among the biggest donations the association has ever received. Performances last year of "Come From Away" featuring the Broadway cast resulted in an $85,000 donation.
According to a statement attributed to Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O'Leary, the company contacted the city during the eight-day state of emergency to ask how it could help. O'Leary said the city was "deeply humbled" by the donation.
"With this funding, a total of 500 families of four can receive a much-needed food supply to help them through this unprecedented winter," the deputy mayor said. "On behalf (of) the Community Food Sharing Association — which is charged with the daunting task of co-ordinating the distribution of food in our city — city council and the residents of St. John’s, our deepest gratitude for this generous donation."
In a statement sent to The Telegram, a spokesperson for the private equity firm said staff were brainstorming ideas on how to help people in the St. John's area.
"All of us were moved by the courageous and dignified manner in which residents of St. John’s came together to endure the terrible blizzard and we felt compelled to act," the spokesperson said. "We reached out to your mayor’s office for ideas and were recommended to contact the Community Food Sharing Association to offer help to families unable to get food and other necessities during the challenging winter conditions."
The state of emergency in St. John's forced businesses to remain closed for days and left many workers short on income.
Walters said Third Eye Capital's help was timely, as the post-Christmas period always tends to be slow for donations to the association.
"Donations have a tendency to drop off dramatically after Christmas," he said. "A donation of this magnitude at this time of year is really significant in giving us the ability to acquire and distribute food throughout food banks — not only in St. John's, but into Labrador as well."
@CBNAndrew