Latest news with #TamisanBenczKnight
CTV News
04-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Edmonton Elks fill food bank hampers ahead of Purolator food drive
Purolator employees and Edmonton Elks' members are seen at the Edmonton Food Bank on July 3, 2025, preparing for the Purolator Tackle Hunger Game Day Food Drive. (CTV News Edmonton/Darcy Seaton) Members of the Edmonton Elks put down the football in exchange for non-perishable food items Thursday as they helped the food bank prepare for the Purolator Tackle Hunger Game Day Food Drive. The drive is taking place July 6 at Commonwealth Stadium, where the Elks will take on the Ottawa Redblacks. Last year, the game day food drive saw fans raise nearly 24,000 pounds of food for the Edmonton Food Bank. 'This is huge for us,' said Tamisan Bencz-Knight, manager of strategic relations and partnerships with Edmonton's Food Bank. 'The Edmonton Football Club was the first football team to support a food bank across the country. Originally, back in the 1980s, the drive was called 'Be a Fan, Bring a Can: Tackle Hunger.' Canadian courier Purolator took on the initiative over 20 years ago to bring the program across the country. Since then, the food drive has delivered over 25 million pounds of food nationally. elks food bank Tamisan Bencz-Knight is seen at the Edmonton Food Bank on July 3, 2025. (CTV News Edmonton/Darcy Seaton) 'Not only are we able to stock some shelves because of the volume of need here, but we're able to raise some money and have a good time while we're at it,' said Bencz-Knight. Bencz-Knight said 41,000 people a month came to the food bank last year. This year, they're seeing 43,000 on average. She said in 1996, their average was about 19,500 people – which was a lot at the time. 'Our numbers keep going up,' said Bencz-Knight. 'We have to continuously bring in food and funds to be able to serve the community. We're not government-funded, and it's events like this – the players, the staff, the teams – that are out there helping us do our work.' She added that such events during the summer time are especially important as people mostly feel generous around the holidays. People can bring donations to the Elks' game Sunday at 7 p.m. or you can make a monetary donation here or through the Edmonton Food Bank. With files from CTV News Edmonton's Darcy Seaton.
CTV News
23-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Rooftop garden growing and buzzing for 3rd season on Edmonton mall
A garden perched atop an Edmonton mall is growing once again. The rooftop garden at Kingsway Mall returned for its third season on Friday, and the shopping centre says the bounty is expected to be bigger with 90 planters up from the 54 planters last year. The garden is expected to produce more than 300 pounds of fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs which will be donated to Edmonton's Food Bank to feed families in need. 'Fresh, accessible food has never been more important to our community,' Bo Tarasenko with Kingsway Mall said in a news release. 'With the growing demand for food support in Edmonton, and the recent loss of key programs that previously supplied fresh produce, supporting food security initiatives is more important than ever.' 'Although a garden like this one feels like a small drop in the bucket, we're committed to doing what we can, and we hope others will be inspired to grow and give as well,' he added, with numbers indicating Edmonton's food bank is averaging almost 44,000 people using the hamper program in the first four months of this year. 'Locally grown food not only helps reduce food insecurity, it also contributes to a food sovereign Edmonton,' Tamisan Bencz-Knight with Edmonton's Food Bank said in a press release. 'Growing a little extra goes a long way in helping put food on the table for those in need while also contributing to a kinder community.' Kingsway Mall covers the cost of the garden and it will be maintained entirely by mall staff and tenants for the first time. Rooftop beehives are also back, which were added last year to encourage pollination of the plants. More information about the rooftop garden and other mall initiatives can be found online.
