A $312,000 donation from the Canadian Association of Petroleum
Producers was presented to the Hay West campaign Oct. 10.
The money is to pay transportation costs to continue delivering eastern
hay to drought-stricken farmers in Saskatchewan and
Alberta.
Oil and gas companies are prominent industries in rural Alberta
providing lots of off-farm employment.
“It’s such a simple thing to do. These are people we rely on and they
need a bit of help,” said John Dielwart representing the petroleum
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association.
Dielwart said the effects of the drought are far from over.
He said rural towns in the hardest hit areas are expected to feel the
impacts in their businesses and social lives through this winter.
“There’ll be layoffs and for some, those are off-farm jobs,” he said.
He encouraged members of the petroleum association to donate to rural
food banks this winter.
A $50,000 donation came from Big Rock Brewery in Calgary. The
independent brewer collected $2 for every dozen Grasshopper wheat ales
sold this summer.
Lammle’s Western Wear plans to raise $70,000 by selling 3,000 pairs of
boots by Oct. 20.
The Calgary based chain plans to donate $25 for every pair sold.
