The AFBNA supports many different types of projects to help Alberta food banks. Please feel free to browse through the following projects and contact the AFBNA if you would like more information on a particular initiative.

Alberta Share
Alberta Share has made it easier to help those less fortunate in the community get healthy, balanced diets by enabling food banks across Alberta to buy the products that are most in need. A $2 Alberta Share card is available at grocery store checkouts for shoppers to give to the cashier for scanning. This $2 is donated to the local AFBNA member in the form of a grocery store gift certificate. Food banks can then purchase a nutritionally balanced supply of products.

Phones for Food
Cell phones are portable convenient, and of course, small! So it used to be thought their environmental impacts was minimal. However, millions of Canadians own cell phone and a typical users changes handsets an average of every 18 months. Nickel-cadmium and other toxic elements can leak into the ground water and effect wildlife, habitats and drinking water. Now the same organization that brought you the thINK Food Project have an innovative solution to the problem: Phones for Food. Phones for Food collects used cell phones and recycles them, then the proceeds are donated to your local food bank.

Plant a Row, Grow a Row
The Plant a Row Grow a Row program invites local gardeners to grow an extra row of vegetables, or donate extra fruit and vegetables to their local food bank or soup kitchen. Food banks are then given an opportunity to educate people about hunger issues locally and nationally.

Established by the Canadian Association of Food Banks, The Composting Council of Canada and the Garden Writers Association of America, Plant a Row Grow a Row builds on the long-standing tradition of gardeners loving to share their harvest with others.

**A new promotional brochure will be available July 2005.

thIINK Food Project
The thINK fundraising effort partners food banks and the ink jet recycling industry. The idea for the project is simple: turn used ink jet cartridges into food by reconditioning the product to be like new and donating the proceeds to the food bank.

This fundraising program was started at the Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto and is now being expanded all over Canada.
www.informedmonton.com/public/agency/1963.htm

Wecan Food Co-op
Some Alberta foods banks have food co-ops running in their community. Food Co-ops provide an alternative to the food bank for low income individuals because it allows them to buy nutrious food at a low cost.

Since many food banks have been asking about the possibilty of creating a food coop in their own community the AFBNA has spoken to Cathy Vereyken who has created a succesful organization with over 400 members. For more information contact Cathy Vereyken 780-439 -6785.