Over $1.3 million – that’s how much has been raised by Abbotsford’s annual Make A Difference auction since 2001.
The auction, which raises funds for Canadian Foodgrains Bank, features the sale of cattle and many other agricultural items and services. Last year’s sale raised nearly $115,000.
This year’s Make A Difference auction takes place March 19 at 10:30 a.m. at the McClary Stockyards, 34559 McClary Ave.
Funds raised at the sale will be used to help people in South Sudan. About one million people in that region are caught in a food crisis. After several years of peace, conflict is now raging between the government and a rebel group.
Many of those who are displaced are small-scale farmers, who depend on growing their own food in order to survive. Now living in refugee camps and host communities far from their farms, they are unable to plant their crops.
Canadian Foodgrains Bank is responding by providing food for people who have been impacted. This includes food for young children and pregnant and nursing mothers.
Without proper nutrition during critical periods of growth and development, young children will suffer the results of the conflict and hunger their entire lives.
People who would like to donate items to the auction to help more people through the Foodgrains Bank can contact Rob Brandsma at 604-834-4435 or Bob Brandsma at 604-855-8016, or by email brandsma.rob@gmail.com
Click here to see the special publication TAKING REFUGE II, published by the Abbotsford News. This interactive online publication, complete with video, takes a look at the work of Canadian Foodgrains Bank.
Canadian Foodgrains Bank is a partnership of 15 church agencies representing 30 denominations in Canada, working together to end global hunger.
With support from the Canadian government, which provides an annual matching grant of $25 million, last year the Foodgrains Bank provided over $42 million of assistance for 1.3 million people in 42 countries. More information at www.foodgrainsbank.ca