Sunday, February 3, 2008

Castanet - Smart Start Meals for food banks

Smart meals for food banks
by Rachael Kimola - Story: 37048Feb 3, 2008 / 3:00 pm


A local business has decided to help out local food banks.

Smart Start Meals has decided to match every client’s meal purchase with the donation of an equivalent sized meal to the nearest food bank.

Ken Scott of Smart Start Meals says the dinner packages will go to the Kelowna Community Food Bank, Westside Community Food Bank, and Lake Country Food Assistance Society. “Most of us don’t know how far reaching our donations can go. These food banks do more than just hand out food to people who come to their door. For example, dinners donated to the Kelowna Community food bank may be transported by them to Kelowna's Gospel Mission, who in turn prepare dinners for up to 170 people,” says Scott.

He says each location has a freezer and cold storage space, and they all have outreach programs to people who will benefit from ready-to-cook dinners.

"What we do gives us a perfect opportunity to help the food banks and the programs they provide. We believe our clientèle will fully support this program." Scott says Smart Start Meals puts together ready-to-cook, pre-ordered meal packages and delivers them to clients throughout the Okanagan.

“For every dinner package their clients order in the month of February, whether an existing client – or a new one – Smart Start will donate a similar meal, pre-packaged, frozen and ready to be used by the food banks however they see fit.”

Scott says that clients can specify which food bank their “twin” meal should go to, or just leave it to Smart Start Meals and the dinner will go to the food bank nearest to the client.
Link:
Smart Start Meals website

Friday, February 1, 2008

Media Release - Smart Start Meals - "Helping feed those in Need"


CONTACT: Ken Scott DATE: Feb 1, 2008

PHONE: 250-869-7678 EMAIL:
ken@smartstartmeals.ca


“Helping Feed those in Need”

Ask anyone at any of the local food banks and they’ll tell you that this cold weather puts a greater demand and hardship on those less fortunate in our communities.

Ken Scott of Smart Start Meals has decided to help out. For every dinner package his clients purchase, Smart Start Meals will donate an equivalent sized dinner to the food bank in that community.

Smart Start Meals dinner packages will go to the Kelowna Community Food Bank, Westside Community Food Bank, and Lake Country Food Assistance Society.

“Most of us don’t know how far reaching our donations can go. These food banks do more than just hand out food to people who come to their door. For example, dinners donated to the Kelowna Community food bank may be transported by them to Kelowna's Gospel Mission, who in turn prepare dinners for up to 170 people,” explains Scott.

Scott has been in touch with local food banks and his generous donations are perfect for this time of year. Each location has a freezer and cold storage space, and they all have outreach programs to people who will benefit from ready-to-cook dinners.

"What we do gives us a perfect opportunity to help the food banks and the programs they provide. We believe our clientele will fully support this program," says Scott.

Smart Start Meals puts together delicious, ready-to-cook, pre-ordered meal packages and delivers them to clients throughout the Okanagan. For every dinner package their clients order in the month of February, whether an existing client – or a new one – Smart Start will donate a similar meal, pre-packaged, frozen and ready to be used by the food banks however they see fit.

Scott says that clients can specify which food bank their “twin” meal should go to, or just leave it to Smart Start Meals and the dinner will go to the food bank nearest to the client. There is no cost to client. Meals can be ordered online at
www.smartstartmeals.ca, and the desired food bank location can be entered in the “comments/requests” field, or call 869-7678.

Things have been going well for the Scott’s and Smart Start Meals. They recently celebrated their 1st anniversary, have had a tremendous increase in their customer base here in the valley, and recently were featured in “Breaking News” and “The Village” section on
www.bigwhite.com. Smart Start Meals offers delivery of dinner packages to guests staying in lodging at Big White, which gives guests a convenient easy way to provide a delicious meal in the comfort of their chalet or condo.

“We just want to give something back,” says Scott. “And this is the best way we can do it.”

For more information on the Smart Start Meals and their food donation project please call Ken at 869-7678, visit
www.smartstartmeals.ca, or e-mail info@smartstartmeals.ca