Five Hole for Food Aims to Raise its One-Millionth Pound of Food for Local Food Banks on Fifth Anniversary Road Trip

July 8, 2014

Five Hole for Food (FHFF) is currently on its fifth anniversary road trip to tackle hunger, starting in St. John’s, N.L. This year’s 18-day tour will stop in 13 cities to play hockey for food and cover over 11,000 kilometres, with the goal of collecting the equivalent of half-a-million pounds of food in support of Canadian food banks.

“Many people don’t realize the extent of hunger’s reach in Canada: each month, close to 850,000 Canadians are assisted by food banks and 36% of those are children and youth,” explains Richard Loat, Five Hole for Food CEO and founder. “This is what makes the Five Hole for Food fifth road trip and goal to raise our one-millionth pound of food for local food banks that much more important.”

Five years ago, Loat had a vision to use hockey as a vehicle for social change. In 2010, he created FHFF and embarked on a road trip that saw him set up ball hockey rinks in parking lots and on streets in nine Canadian cities and invite the public to come out and play. To date, FHFF has collected over the equivalent of 500,000 pounds of food.

Today, FHFF organizes ball hockey games throughout the year, including recent events at SXSW in Austin, the Beaver Cup in Ottawa, and Canada Day International in New York. Loat’s infectious enthusiasm has grown FHFF to a team of 40-plus volunteers supported by national partners.

This year, the charity is happy to announce the addition of TSN hockey analyst and insider Bob McKenzie to a growing list of FHFF hockey ambassadors.

“I am pleased to help Five Hole for Food in any way I can,” says McKenzie. “Hunger, and getting food to people and families who need it, is an effort we all need to get behind. Hopefully, hockey fans and hockey people across Canada will get on board.”

By announcing his support, McKenzie joins an all-star cast of hockey ambassadors including NHL players Kyle Turris and Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks team president, Trevor Linden, and Boston Pizza co-founder, Jim Treliving to name a few.

Loat couldn’t be happier with how 2014 is starting out. This is one young man on a highly-successful mission to make the world a better place.

Canadians from coast to coast are invited this summer to participate in the free drop-in ball hockey games by simply bringing a hockey stick and a can of food or a cash donation for the food banks.

2014 Road Trip Stops

July 2: St. John’s – George Street  
July 4: Halifax – Halifax Grand Parade
 July 5: Charlottetown – Superstore parking lot
 July 6: Saint John – Harbour Station  
July 8: Montreal – Place Vertu
 July 9: Ottawa – Sparks Street
July 10: Toronto – Yonge Dundas Square  
July 13: Winnipeg – Corydon Avenue at Hugo Street
 July 14: Regina – Scarth Street Mall  
July 15: Calgary – Eau Claire Market
 July 16: Edmonton – Centennial Plaza (next to Milner Library)
 July 18: Victoria – Saanich Plaza 
July 19: Vancouver – Granville Street (between Georgia and Smithe Streets)

Vancouverites are invited on July 19 to bring their hockey stick and play in a drop-in ball hockey game! While there is no charge to play, participants and spectators are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item or cash donation. Volunteers from The Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society will be on site to collected donations.

Five Hole for Food in Vancouver

Date: Saturday, July 19, noon to 6 pm
Venue: Granville Street (700 and 800 blocks)

This year’s FHFF is sponsored by London Drugs, Natures Path, Canadian Pacific, Good Life Fitness, Tangerine, TELUS, 7-Eleven, The NHLPA Goals and Dreams Fund, Molson Canadian, Dan-D-Pak, Marketwired and Boston Pizza. Photos courtesy of Five Hole for Food.