London Drugs Launches Food Donations Direct From Web to Western Canada's Local Food Banks

RICHMOND, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - June 30, 2015) - The annual food fundraising tour, Five Hole for Food (FHFF) kicks off in St. John's on July 1^st and this year, there are new ways for the public to support local food banks during the summer, one of their toughest times of year.

"People generally donate to their local food banks during the winter," said Richard Loat, CEO and founder of Five Hole for Food. "We run FHFF during the summer specifically to fill the needs of empty food bank shelves."

This is London Drugs' fifth year supporting FHFF which will run through 13 cities in 18 days. The last six cities on the tour will stop in London Drugs' hometowns. This year, in addition to staff participation and thousands of pounds of food being donated by London Drugs, customers will be able to add to the food bank bins in two new ways, by purchasing FHFF food bags in stores and donate directly to local food banks online via www.londondrugs.com/FHFF.

"Five Hole for Food wouldn't have been able to help put more than 1-million pounds of food on dining tables across Canada over the past five years without the invaluable support from our partners, such as London Drugs," said Loat. "As FHFF has grown, so has London Drugs' commitment to helping feed hungry Canadians. London Drugs has been a sponsor since FHFF's beginnings, but it's great to see how the team there has embraced the cause so wholeheartedly that it's now a part of their culture as evidenced by all their new initiatives this year. From giving customers the opportunity to purchase a FHFF bag of food for donation to offering them the ability to donate at their tills and online, London Drugs has made it easier than ever to support the local food banks in Western Canada."

"London Drugs is proud to step up our support even more this year with simple ways for our customers to join the FHFF drive and directly help hungry people living in our communities," says Clint Mahlman, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, London Drugs. "Customers can donate at till at all 78 London Drugs stores and now for the first time, donate directly to local food banks via www.londondrugs.com/FHFF."

London Drugs encourages fellow businesses and members of the community to come out, donate, and compete with us on the following dates and locations!

Winnipeg - Royal Sports / July 11th, 2015, 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. / Details / Register

Regina - Scarth Street Mall / July 13th, 2015, 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. / Details / Register

Calgary - Eau Claire Market / July 14th, 2015, 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. / Details / Register

Edmonton - Centennial Plaza / July 15th, 2015, 2:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. / Details / Register

Victoria - Mayfair Shopping Centre parking lot / July 17th, 2015, 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. / Details / Register

Vancouver - Granville Street / July 18th, 2015, 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. / Details / Register

The full fundraising tour and FHFF road hockey challenge spots can be found at www.fiveholeforfood.com.

"Last year London Drugs raised 60,000 pounds of food for Five Hole for Food," said Malhman. "This year our goal is to increase this donation to 80,000 pounds. I'm confident that with the commitment of our staff together with the great work of the Five Hole for Food team, this will be achievable. Best of luck to all participants in this year's food fundraising tour."

The list of food banks Five Hole for Food will be supporting can be found here: http://www.fiveholeforfood.com/food-banks/

For more information about Five Hole for Food, follow on Twitter: @fiveholeforfood, or send e-mail to info@fiveholeforfood.com.

About Five Hole for Food

Five Hole for Food is a non-profit organization that plays street hockey across Canada each summer to raise awareness for food banks and collect food donations for them. This grassroots campaign was started by Richard Loat in 2010 and sees him and his volunteers going on a cross-country road trip to give back to the community. Using social media to reach out to hockey fans from coast to coast, Five Hole for Food organizes street hockey games in major cities and encourages people to show up with their hockey stick and a food donation. The 2015 campaign starts July 1st in St. John's, Nfld., and wraps up July 18 in Vancouver, B.C.

About London Drugs

Founded in 1945, B.C.-based London Drugs has 79 stores in more than 35 major markets throughout British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba including its online store www.londondrugs.com London Drugs offers consumers a range of products from digital cameras and cosmetics to computers and televisions. Renowned for its creative approach to retailing, the company employs more than 7,500 people with pharmacy and health care services being the heart of its business. Committed to innovation and superior customer service, London Drugs has established itself as a reputable and caring company and continues to position itself for future growth and development.