Help us Fill the Tree for the Food Bank!

The Tofield Mercury has once again launched its Fill the Tree fundraising campaign for 2022.

What started out as a Christmas project decades ago, has grown into a major fundraiser for the Food Banks each Christmas in Beaver County, Flagstaff County, and Lamont County.

Last Christmas season, Mercury readers and customers stopped in or sent cheques as we filled the tree and raised $3,105. This season with the Food Banks low on supplies we intend to do the same.

“It’s a project we started years ago at The Community Press,” said Mercury Publisher Kerry Anderson.

“It did so well that we brought it to the Viking paper, Tofield paper, and Lamont paper too. Each year it has grown.”

For every donation, no matter the amount (the recommended minimum is $5, but no donation is turned away), Mercury readers get their names on our Fill the Tree promotional page. Each week the number of names grow, and so does the amount of money for the Food Bank.

“The thing I like about the promotion is that every donation is equal although the amounts donated are not.

“We don’t put in amounts so that even if you are only able to bring in $5 you are still recognized as much as the person who helps us out with $100 or $500,” said Anderson.

The Mercury puts in the advertising free of charge each week promoting the fundraiser up until Christmas, and every dime collected goes directly to the food bank just before Christmas.

“The readers in our area are such generous people. We’re all always impressed by how willing everyone is to stop in and drop down their cash for our Food Bank envelope.”

The tree and collection box are ready to go at the front desk of the Tofield Mercury office on main street in Tofield. Donations can also be mailed to Box 150, Tofield, AB; T0B 4J0. Cheques should be made payable directly to the Tofield-Ryley Food Bank.

Stop by the Mercury and let’s Fill the Tree in 2022!