Vale and Wheaton Precious Metals joined together this week to donate $100,000 to the Edgar Burton Christmas Food Drive in support of the Sudbury Food Bank. This is the largest donation the Edgar Burton Christmas Food Drive has received since it became a community tradition more than 30 years ago.
"Vale's employees are so proud to continue the community tradition of helping those in need along with our business partner, Wheaton Precious Metals," said Claire Parkinson, Head of Processing Plants for Vale's Ontario Operations. "Together with our community we have an opportunity to make a significant difference in the lives of so many this holiday season."
The donation is in addition to the thousands of dollars donated by the community and more than 100 tons of food donated to the Edgar Burton Christmas Food drive by generous businesses, school children and individuals across the City of Greater Sudbury this holiday season. Financial donations can still be made at: www.sudburyfoodbank.ca/edgarburton.
"Wheaton's staff have volunteered with their local food banks in the past and have seen firsthand the positive impact that these organizations make in our communities," said Randy Smallwood, Wheaton's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are proud to join our partner Vale in supporting the Sudbury Food Bank with this important initiative to help the less fortunate this holiday season."
The Sudbury Food Bank provides food to approximately 11,000 people every month through over 40 member agencies and outreach programs. Of those clients, over half are children. Through the pandemic the Sudbury Food Bank has also seen an increase in first-time users over the age of 65.
"We are so thankful for this generous donation from Vale and Wheaton Precious Metals to the Edgar Burton Christmas Food Drive," said Mellaney Dahl, President of the Sudbury Food Bank. "It comes at a really important time during the pandemic and the growing number of clients that require the support of the Sudbury Food Bank."
Edgar Burton, a Vale Divisional Shops employee for 36 years, started the annual food drive 34 years ago in his workplace when Edgar's daughters asked him if they could start collecting food for the less fortunate. Today, Vale donates the time of one full-time and one part-time United Steel Worker (USW) Local 6500 employee for approximately two months to organize the Edgar Burton Christmas Food Drive.
"USW Local 6500 is proud to uphold Edgar Burton's vision of one more can than last year" said Nick Larochelle, President of USW Local 6500. "We would like to thank our members, Owen Marcotte and Jeff LaLonde from Vale's Divisional Shops, and all the volunteers for their work on this year's campaign. A big thank you also goes out to all the people that have taken the time to make a donation once again this year."
Before his passing in 2010, Edgar launched the Kids Helping Kids campaign, which engages school children in the food drive and teaches them about the importance of giving back to their community. And despite the pandemic, students have continued to give generously to the Kids Helping Kids campaign this year.
Collection of all of the donations during the Edgar Burton Christmas Food Drive is no easy feat. In fact, the campaign organizers call in the 2nd Battalion Irish Regiment of Canada to get the job done.
As one of the largest food drives in Canada, the Edgar Burton Christmas Food Drive is a source of community pride. With a dedicated group of volunteers and thousands of donations from residents all across the City, we are helping thousands of families and individuals in need.
VALE S.A. 
