Edgar Burton Christmas Food Drive wraps up 37th year

Sudbury food drive thrives in its 37th year Organizers of the Edgar Burton Christmas Food Drive, now in its 37th year, hope this year will be the most successful ever.

The Edgar Burton Christmas Food Drive concluded its 37th year Wednesday morning.

The campaign raises money and non-perishable donations for the Sudbury Food Bank.

It was founded by Edgar Burton, a Vale employee, who started the drive after seeing the need in the community. It blossomed into one of the largest food drives in Ontario.

Before his passing in 2010, he established the Kids Helping Kids campaign, to get students involved in the process.

Ray Hammond, United Steelworkers Local 6500 president, worked with Burton, remembering him as someone who cared deeply about his community.

"Always a very energetic person. Very passionate. Very happy to be around other people," Hammond said said.

"Especially when it came to Christmastime and the food drive, he was always, available to people doing everything he could to get people involved in the program."

Burton’s granddaughter, Liberty Verbrugge, said her grandfather would be proud.

"He had that passion in him. And he saw that kids needed help or even adults, kids, everyone, whoever needed help on the streets or in their home, even kids at school, they all needed food, Verbrugge said.

"It means everything. Because this (has) gone from so little to so much."

Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised throughout the years. Dan Xilon, executive director of the Sudbury Food Bank, said the fundraiser contributes 25 per cent to address the organization’s need each year.

"Numbers are increasing. The biggest ones that are increasing right now, of course, are obviously seniors and of course, people that are working," Xilon said.

"November, the last numbers we have, we got 70,000 requests for service, whether it be a food bank, a meal provider or specialty program."

Vale Base Metals has been a long-time contributor to the Food Drive. In partnership with Wheaton Base Metals, Vale donated $125,000. It also donated the time of two full-time Steelworkers employees to help.

Food security challenges

"I think when we look at food security challenges across the world and in this country, you know, it's a great opportunity to bring something back to the community," said Emily Olson, chief of sustainability and corporate affairs for Vale.

Steelworkers also contributed $2,500, the Rainbow District School Board raised more than $50,000 and the Canadian Armed Forces collected 20,000 pounds of food.

"Sudbury's in need right now," Hammond said.

"We understand that. But with the way things are right now, there's so much pressure on the food bank to supply food to people in need that we want to be part of that."

Totals for the food drive will be calculated after New Year’s, but so far, Xilon said it appears to be the most successful yet.

"It makes a true difference in what's going to happen in 2025 in the city for people who are hungry," he said.