Mikado Electric makes five-year, $100,000 commitment to Interfaith Food Bank

By Herald on November 12, 2020.

Mike Mikado, owner of Mikado Electric, at left, alongside with Neil Heaton, operations manager and Danielle McIntyre, executive director of Interfaith Food Bank, has committed to provide $100,000 over five years to assist with food purchases, and is the founding sponsor of the new Interfaith Food Bank Guardians Program. Submitted photo

Lethbridge Herald

Interfaith Food Bank has announced the first ever, long-term commitment of support to the annual food purchase budget as Mikado Electric has stepped forward with a $100,000 commitment to assist with food purchases over the next five years.

Interfaith Food Bank has been serving the community with emergency food assistance and food security initiatives since 1989. A charitable, non-profit organization, the food bank is almost completely reliant upon the generosity of the community for food purchases and operational costs. With no sustainable funding options for programs offered by the food bank, this longer term commitment by Mikado Electric offers a type of sustainability and security for the food bank that will help to ensure food security supports are available to the community in the future.

“We really do ride on faith,” says Interfaith Food Bank executive director Danielle McIntyre in a news release, “and somehow our community has always been able to come through for us. A commitment of this type is the first of its kind for Interfaith, and one we’re hoping will inspire other groups to also make long term commitments of support to any of the expenses the food bank carries from year to year.”

Mikado Electric will become the first founding partner of the “Food Bank Guardians” sponsorship program. Those who make substantial, long term commitments to provide for the future of the food bank will be honored as “Guardians” to mark the legacy and impact they will provide for future food bank users in our community.

“It’s really about creating some sense of stability for the food bank,” says McIntyre. “What I find inspiring about the Guardians program is the multitude of options it provides to those who want to contribute long term. Guardians can choose to support food purchases, cooking classes, garden programs, or with our delivery fleet, for example. They might align their gifts with their own business and perhaps support our annual budget for managing finances, administration or operating costs, or specific items we need to pay for every year. The possibilities are endless and we’re open to explore any option for support that will help us to plan ahead to ensure we’re able to support food security needs of our community for years to come.”

Mikado Electric has sponsored previous events and activities with Interfaith Food Bank such as Canada Day activities in Galt Gardens and the recent Feed Lethbridge event, on top of making regular contributions over the years. Approaching the food bank to propose a longer term, more substantial contribution was a natural thought for business owner Mike Mikado.

“Mikado Electric strives to make a positive impact on people whether in business, or in its day-to-day interactions with the communities we serve,” says Mike Mikado. “We are proud to be part of the Guardian Program with Interfaith Food Bank. This allows us to offer social sustainability to the Lethbridge community, in a long-term way. As the owner, I would like to challenge and encourage like-minded business owners to follow suit so we can make a larger impact in the city that we live in, and have built our businesses in.”

The food bank encourages those who would like to make a long term impact on local food security initiatives to reach out to discuss options for planned giving and legacy gift options.

For more information about Interfaith Food Bank, or to discuss a long term commitment to food security in our community, please visit us online at http://www.interfaithfoodbank.ca or contact our office at 403-320-8779.