With the help of shoppers and the community at large, the Olds Walmart store raised nearly $23,000 for the Mountain View Food Bank (MVFB).
That announcement was made last week at the food bank in Olds.
MVFB president Vicky Johnson says that's the largest donation they've received so far this year.
She says that's because Olds Walmart manager Wes Woodbury -- among other Walmart officials across Canada -- pressed for donations raised locally to remain in local areas.
"Wes was good enough to come down and he presented us with a cheque for about $23,000 from Walmart and he was very instrumental in getting that for us," Johnson said.
That's made a big difference, she said.
"Generally we have a disbursal from Food Banks Canada and they more or less decide what we're allowed and what we're not," Johnson said. "I would think we usually get less than $1,000, because of course, it's nationwide.
"We consider a large donation (to be) $12,000, $16,000. So to have between $21,000 and $23,000 is a huge amount of money for us," she added.
"And we've been falling behind this year. Our donations have been lagging behind since April. So we have been seeing a deficit in what we've been spending and what has been coming in. So to have this is really -- it's a big catch-up for us."
"This year, we made a conscious effort to make sure that the company was on board with every dollar that we raised in town actually going to our local food bank, " Woodbury said.
He stressed that funds were distributed that way across Canada, not just in Olds.
Woodbury said the money was raised through a variety of ways, including donations at store checkouts as well as bake sales and book sales.
Also, when the store has attractions like Star Wars characters, they receive donations from some customers.
"It's kind of a combination of associate efforts, but also the community being willing to donate and just the fact that Walmart is willing to drive these programs in our stores. We wouldn't be able to raise the money if Walmart didn't say, 'hey, try to do this for us,'" Woodbury said.
"So it's exciting that a combination of associates, our company, and the community are able to raise this money for the food bank."
Johnson said the money provided via Walmart will all go to purchase food for food bank clients.
