In one of their best years ever, the Ponoka Foodgrains project raised $120,000 towards ending world hunger last fall.
Peter Doornenbal, co-ordinator of the project, said 2013 was one of the best years for crops, which helped the group’s bottom line.
“It was combination of all the farmers helping and the good crops,” said Doornenbal. “We sold it on time and that helps, too.”
They are already gearing up for this year’s foodgrains project, getting chicken manure and fertilizer lined up.
The Ponoka project is part of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.
The foodgrains bank is responsible for distributing food around the world, where it is needed most. In the past year, the group has provided about $43 million in aid in 37 countries.
The project started 16 years ago and has been going strong ever since.
“I had a passion for it,” said Doornenbal. “I’ve been to Africa myself and saw all the good all the money did there. That’s why I stay involved all the time, is you see where the money goes. I was really impressed with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.”
More than $100,000 was raised from sales of the Ponoka crop, and with the support of farmers and businesses and cash donations, the total raised was about $120,000. Some of this is matched on a four-to-one basis by the Canadian International Development Agency.
“It’s a combination of the businesses and the farmers coming together every year to make this a success,” said Doornenbal.
mcrawford@www.reddeeradvocate.com