Calgary teens raise $4,150 in a week for Ranchlands food pantry, aiming for $10,000

Two Calgary teenagers have raised $4,150 in about a week toward a $10,000 goal for the Ranchlands Community Association's food pantry, and donations close Dec. 2.

For a donor, a gift above $20 earns an official tax receipt. Non-perishable food and unused toiletries can be dropped off at the association's box.

Shreya Shenoy, 16, and her sister Sakshi, 12, founded Giving Forward Canada, a charitable venture that supports smaller organizations and causes that resonate with them. Shreya is a Grade 11 student and both sisters are members of 918 Griffin Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron. Shreya said they were inspired by high-achieving Canadians they met at the Forum for Young Canadians in Ottawa earlier this year.

The sisters picked the Ranchlands association after finding an empty food pantry box at the Amchigele community hall in South India, where they hold an annual Diwali festival. "We saw their food pantry box was completely empty and we started going there more to see how we can help," Shreya said. The campaign has a direct-funding target of $5,000 and a goal of 1,000 non-perishable food items. Corporate donations above $200 are featured on the association's Instagram and social media pages.

The association, which runs the Ranchlands Food Pantry for residents facing food insecurity, said it was "so honoured" to be part of the effort, calling it a generous and inspiring effort by young people. It has not described how the money will be transferred or accounted for, and it has not independently confirmed the $4,150 total.

MLA Muhammad Yaseen, MLA Julia Hayter and Ward 2 Coun. Jennifer Wyness have drawn attention to the sisters. Mayor Jeromy Farkas invited Sakshi to a screening of his documentary about a 4,300-kilometre hike on the Pacific Crest Trail, which raised money for Big Brothers Big Sisters. "His movie was all about his journey about how he fundraised money for Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and that is what inspired me to help with Giving Forward Canada," Sakshi said. Donations close Dec. 2.