In just 24 hours, SooToday readers and local businesses raise over $16,000 to fight hunger

The holidays can be a particularly difficult time for those experiencing food insecurity in our community.

In Sault Ste. Marie’s true giving fashion, we were able to quickly come together to make a big impact for those in need through a food drive initiative supporting the Sault Ste. Marie Soup Kitchen and St. Vincent Place.

In partnership with Northside Toyota as part of their annual Fill the Toyota food drive, SooToday decided to make it easier than ever for community members - like you - to support charities in need this holiday season by creating an online donation page for readers to contribute to.

We then rallied 16 local businesses to each match the first $1,000 in community donations made online to Northside’s Fill the Toyota campaign, turning $1,000 of donations from our readers into over $16,000 total that will stay right here in Sault Ste. Marie.

We were thrilled by the response of our readers and business sponsors who together reached our fundraising goal in one day.

This initiative would not have been possible without the support from the following local businesses: Adam Slumskie at CIBC Private Wealth/Intrinsic Financial Group, ASAPP Financial Technology Inc., Daniel J. Fremlin Building Group, Feifel Gualazzi Personal Injury Law Firm, GFL Environmental, Laser Advantage, Laidlaw Paciocco Dumanski Spadafora & Johnson, Mio’s Furniture, Northern Credit Union, O’Sullivan Funeral Home, Pino’s Get Fresh, Joe Ruscio Professional Corporation, Savoy’s Jewellers, Northside Toyota and SooToday.

If you haven’t had a chance to support yet, you can still help drive down hunger in our community by dropping off non-perishable food items in the back of the Fill the Toyota vehicles at Northside Toyota, Pino’s Get Fresh and Rome’s Independent Grocer. Shoppers at Pino’s and Rome’s can also make donations at the checkout of either store.

Thank you to each and every person who made this meaningful contribution to our local food banks possible. Together, we have truly made a difference.