Thank you for stepping up to support the Mustard Seed Food Bank during an incredible time of need! This campaign is on "pause" and will reopen in the fall during its usual time slot (with the final day landing on the Victoria Tech Community Awards). The exact dates will be Oct 30th to Nov 30th. The current team's tallies will stay intact when we reopen, so you can choose to keep your current amount as is, or top it up a bit! Questions? Contact foodbankchallenge@viatec.ca.

A big thanks to the following companies for getting an early start and raising right after the Mustard Seed's fire: StarFish Medical, Workday, Smart Dolphins, Checkfront, Schneider Electric Victoria and Flytographer!

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED NOW, MORE THAN EVER:

In the early hours of March 27, 2023, the largest food bank service on southern Vancouver Island was left reeling after a fire damaged part of its facility in Victoria, resulting in fresh foods and canned foods needing to be thrown out. Due to smoke impacts caused by the fire, The Mustard Seed Food Bank had to throw out:

• Up to 40 pallets of dry and fresh food, (plus hygiene products)
• Cases of new and used clothing (child, youth and adult)
• Hundreds of pairs of runners for children and youth.

That didn’t stop them from giving back. They moved their services to their parking lot and did their best to continue providing to the community. The very same firefighters that extinguished the flames, came back to help clean up the residue and damage left behind and they’re close to reopening. It’s been inspiring to see the community rally to say the least - but now they need our help more than ever to replenish their inventory so they can continue to help those that need it most.

VIATEC is inviting companies of all types in Greater Victoria to join forces in an effort to give back and raise as many funds for The Mustard Seed Food Bank as possible from May 8th to June 2nd! 

THE GOAL:

Our goal this year: 100 organizations (teams), raising a total of $100,000. Register your team NOW and start fundraising on May 8th!

The more friends, family and clients you share your team page with, the better. Stick that link in your email signatures, text it to your mom, place it in your IG bio, whatever you need to do to get those donations rolling in!

This year’s efforts will be focused on monetary donations only and will not include non-perishables or toiletries. The Mustard Seed’s buying power allows them to get more for their money and will make the most difference in this time of need (Yes, tax receipts will be issued for donations of $20 or more).

TAX RECEIPTS:

Immediately following an online donation of $20 or more, the donator will be emailed a tax receipt from notifications@fundrazr.com with the subject line “Tax receipt for your contribution to 2023 VIATEC Foundation Food Bank Challenge”. Please save and file this receipt to use during tax season.

PARTICIPATION:

Participating can mean anything from making an online donation, to signing up as a team and accepting the challenge, to creating internal teams to compete to raise the most possible. We have a whole series of tips below on how to have fun and encourage donors to support you in this great cause.

All we ask is that your team have a minimum goal of $250 - if you can raise more, fantastic; If you’re closer to your minimum goal, you will still be a part of this unique fundraiser, helping feed those in need. Every dollar matters!

*If you’d like to apply company matching to your campaign, please email foodbankchallenge@viatec.ca with your budget to have this applied to your campaign

WHAT DO I DO?

1. REGISTER your team above
2. Spread the word that you’ve accepted the challenge, and challenge another company to face off against you!
3. On May 8th start collecting donations!
   (Remember to always use your unique page link in order to have your donations tracked)
4. Raise a minimum of $250 as a team
5. Encourage other companies to join the challenge! Download our graphic assets here .
6. If you selected “let’s go the extra mile” above, you can also:
1. Challenge another company at something
2. Organize your own fundraising event 
3. Run your own in-house staff competition (You can add team members on your page and everyone can track their own personal efforts!)
4. Work with local businesses to organize a contest
5. Boost awareness of your company culture on social media through this challenge
6. And so much more!

TOP 10 TIPS TO SUCCESS:

Once you have your sub-campaign page set on FundRazr, use that link to share with your network and it will automatically track your team’s fundraising efforts!

1. Read this fantastic blog by Top Contributor alumni, StarFish Medical
2. Share your sub-campaign FundRazr link with your network to track your team’s efforts
3. You can view the Leaderboard at any point to see who is in the lead
4. You can even add team members and have some friendly in-house competition going if you’d like :)
5. Don’t be that team and throw everyone off by waiting until the end to enter your donations - we encourage you to keep the donations flowing! Put up your numbers so other companies see your great example and possibly dig a little deeper. The real goal is to feed as many people as we can.
6. Some companies like to match donations - email foodbankchallenge@viatec.ca with your budget to have this applied to your campaign
7. Make sure you post updates on your sub-campaign page in order to give visitors something to get behind! 
8. Download our graphic assets here
9. Use “#VIATECFoodBankChallenge” on social media to keep us posted on all the fun you’re having
10. Visit www.mustardseed.ca to learn more about the impact you’re making!

TOP CONTRIBUTORS:

VIATEC will recognize two categories: 

1. the top 3 Greatest Overall Contributors, and 
2. the top 3 Greatest Per-Employee Contributors
   (calculated by: $ ÷ # of staff ). 

You’re welcome to add your own rewards and consequences with any other companies you challenge too ;)

BACKGROUND:

Since its inception, $2,478,741.72 worth of food and cash has been donated to the Mustard Seed through companies participating in the VIATEC Foundation Food Bank Challenge.

HOW YOU’RE HELPING:

There are 50,000 “hidden hungry” or food insecure individuals in Greater Victoria and we need your help to continue to provide them with the most important pillar… food. Food not only nourishes the body, but it provides a sense of stability, of sharing with community or family, and a moment of rest, and warmth, amidst the chaos of life. This is more important than ever. It just so happens that helping to donate to these programs also brings your team together in a way that can only be described as inspiring!

#VIATECFoodBankChallenge

Questions? Contact foodbankchallenge@viatec.ca