Hughes Christensen Representatives Presents Cheque to Sarda Sahney, AFBNA Association Coordinator

(Calgary, Alberta) Hughes Christensen Canada recently helped the needy in several communities in Western Canada while supporting our local cattle ranchers in their time of crisis by making a sizable donation to local food banks to purchase Canadian beef. Hughes Christensen representatives and supporter Lanny MacDonald, will hold a donation ceremony today at 1:30 pm in the reception area of Baker Hughes head office in Gulf Canada Square at 1000, 401 9th Avenue S.W.

Beef prices plunged May 20, 2026 when Canada announced the discovery of a single cow in Northern Alberta with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, commonly know as "mad cow" disease.

Proceeding bans on beef exports caused significant economic hardship to cattle ranchers in Canada. In early September, the United States and other countries began allowing some beef imports after rigorous searches failed to turn up additional cases of BSE. However, farmers continue to experience the most troubling times the Canadian Beef Industry has ever seen.

"Many beef farmers are our customers, our friends and our neighbours. In some cases they're family," said Darrel Bohlender, Hughes Christensen Canada Northern Sales Manager. "We wanted to help them while also contributing to the needy in our communities."

To achieve both goals, Hughes Christensen Canada donated $23,500 to local food banks in several communities including Calgary, Red Deer, Edson, Grande Prairie, and Fort St. John, BC. This money will be used towards the purchase of Western Canadian Beef.

"We are very excited about this donation, Hughes Christensen is a great supporter of Alberta Food Banks. They have come through for Albertans in a time of great need," says Sarda Sahney of the Alberta Food Bank Network Association.

"The Western Canadian Beef industry and the Western Canadian Oil Industry have strong ties and we hope this gesture only strengthens our relationship," Mr. Bohlender said.

Hughes Christensen, a Baker Hughes company, is a leading supplier of Tricone and diamond drill bits to the petroleum and mining industries. Baker Hughes Incorporated provides drilling, formation evaluation, completion and production products and services to the worldwide oil and gas industry.

For more information:

Association Coordinator Alberta Food Bank Network Association Phone: 1-866-251-2326 Email:

Darrel Bohlender, Northern Field Sales Manager Hughes Christensen Canada Phone: 780-434-8800 Email:

	Tamara Eberle of thINK Food Recycles Ink Cartridges in Calgary

(Alberta) Canadians put millions of used printer cartridges and cell phones in the landfill each year. Over 778,000 Canadians access food banks each month. thINK FOOD and Phones-for-Food provide an opportunity to make a positive change.

The third national Waste Reduction Week will be celebrated October 20-26, 2003. Each day of the week focuses on reducing waste in a specific area, Wednesday and Thursday are focused on reducing waste at work and at school. Both of these settings see heavy printer cartridge use and, individuals and businesses across the province have thousands of used cell phones stockpiled. An innovative project called thINK FOOD / Phones-for-Food diverts these materials from landfills and fills the needs of the hungry at the same time.

A joint partnership between the Canadian Association of Food Banks, the Alberta Food Bank Network Association, Purolator and Petro-Canada, thINK FOOD / Phones-for-Food is simple and participation is free and virtually effortless. Schools, offices, and the public are encouraged to throw their used printer cartridges and cell phones into a drop-box rather than the garbage. Donated items are then sent to remanufactures, with the community Food Bank being remunerated. As a result, the local Food Bank is able to feed more people and harmful waste is diverted from the landfill.

The impact is meaningful: the funds provided by one used printer cartridge or cell phone could purchase a carton of milk, a jar of peanut butter or even a whole meal. To date the project has diverted over 220,000 items and raised over one quarter of a million lbs of food.

"This is a program that brings together our principal concerns: feeding hungry people and helping the environment." said Charles Seiden, Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Food Banks

"Our members are excited by how quickly the project grows once it is seeded. thINK FOOD helps food banks through periods of low food donations, like the summer months and aids in forming valuable community partnerships, " notes Sarda Sahney, Association Coordinator of the Alberta Food Bank Network Association.

"The thINK Food Project is an innovative solution to two large problems affecting our communities: hunger and the environment," said Tamara Eberle, National Development Director of the thINK Food Project. "The partnerships and public support are what make it successful. This year it won the Imagine "New Spirit of Community" Partnership Award from the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy."

To register your site or to find a drop-off location near you visit: www.think-food.com or www.phonesforfood.com.

For more information:

Association Coordinator Alberta Food Bank Network Association Phone: 1-866-251-2326 Email:

Tamara Eberle National Development Director thINK FOOD Phone: 1-888-271-3641 Email:

Charles Seiden Executive Director Canadian Association of Food Banks Phone: 1-416-203-9241 Email:

	Packers Will Donate to Food Banks

(Alberta) The recent export ban imposed on Canadian beef products has left Alberta meat packers with an excess of lower-cut meats. Packers are anxious to move this product to make room for higher-grade meats which can be sold on the domestic market. The Alberta government has decided not to provide monetary aid or assist in the distribution of this food. Consequently, any donations of surplus beef will be made directly by the province's meat packers.

One meat packing plant, XL Foods, has committed to donating 200,000 lbs of excess meat to food banks over the next six weeks. The material will be distributed to municipal food banks in Calgary, Edmonton, Regina and Winnipeg.

Even in the abscence of government assistance; this is good news for food banks across the province. Over 80 food banks in Alberta work to feed 46 000 people each month. Rural food banks have been seeing rising numbers due to the short-term economic crisis brought on by the mad cow scare.


For more information:
Association Coordinator
Alberta Food Bank Network Association
Phone: 1-866-251-2326
Email:

	Lois Hole and Fill-Up at the Launch