Edmonton is the latest stop in a nationwide campaign to collect food for people in need. The fourth annual Purolator Tackle Hunger National Red Bag Campaign arrived in the Alberta capital this week, with 4,000 red bags delivered to local homes. Residents are encouraged to fill the bags with non-perishable food items and place them on their doorsteps. Couriers will collect the donations on Saturday and deliver them to Edmonton’s Food Bank. Edmonton is one of 21 communities across Canada participating in the campaign, which has provided more than 515,000 meals since 2023. More than 66,000 reusable bags will be distributed nationwide this year. Stephanie Iocabelli, Purolator’s manager of community investment, said the company launched the initiative after seeing a growing demand for food bank services in recent years. Food bank visits reached a record high in March 2025. “We decided to get creative by doing what we do best, and that’s driving through communities every day,” Iocabelli told CTV News Edmonton on Thursday. The campaign grew out of food drives previously held at Purolator terminals. Purolator’s Tackle Hunger program has been running since 2003 and regularly partners with the Edmonton Elks football team on food drives. Iocabelli said accepted donations include nut butters, cereal, healthy pantry snacks, and canned vegetables and fish. A full list of accepted items is included with each red bag. People who did not receive a red bag can still donate online through Purolator’s Virtual Red Bag campaign at Purolator Virtual Red Bag. “Thanks to everyone in Edmonton who has taken that extra step, whether it’s filling a red bag or giving back at one of our Tackle Hunger game days with the Edmonton Elks,” Iocabelli said. “It all makes a really big difference.” With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Robyn Clarke
