Thrifty Foods wants to raise $1 million for Special Olympics athletes! When you donate in-store from June 1 to 8, 2023, your donation will be matched up to $500,000!* Are you up for the challenge?
Thrifty Foods and Empire Company Ltd. banner stores from coast to coast are holding their in-store fundraising campaign to support Special Olympics athletes across Canada from June 1 to 8.
All you have to do is add "support athletes with an intellectual disability" to your grocery list. To participate, say “YES” to donating $2 or rounding up your bill at check out!
Every $2 donation helps provide one day of funding for an athlete enrolled in a Special Olympics program.
Together, we can help support the health of individuals with an intellectual disability and create more inclusive communities across Canada.
Empire Company Limited, a dedicated partner of Special Olympics Canada since 2016, helps our athletes, families, and coaches eat better and feel better with nutrition guides, cooking classes, and fresh, accessible food.
*100% of the money raised will be donated to Special Olympics Canada with no administration fees retained by Empire Company Limited. No tax receipts will be issued for the donation made during this time. Empire Company Limited will match donations made in-store to a maximum of $500,000 from June 1-8, 2023. For more information please visit: www.specialolympics.ca
Meet SOBC Athletes
Ellah Orr has been building her skills and confidence as a Special Olympics athlete for the last two years. She participates in Abbotsford's Active Start and FUNdamentals youth programs, where her mother Mariah volunteers as the co-program leader!
Ellah's favorite game to play at her youth programs is "Duck, Duck, Goose." She also enjoys playing with balloons and parachutes with her friends! For Mariah, it is the friendships formed through sport that have become so important to Ellah. She says she loves "that there is a space for my daughter to work on sport skills at her own pace while being included on a team."
"Every person deserves to feel like they belong and are a part of a team," Mariah says.
Watch Mariah and Ellah on CTV Morning Live
Thrifty Foods employees
Thrifty Foods is a diverse and inclusive workplace. Many Special Olympics BC athletes are proud employees of Thrifty Foods!
Health
As a proud Special Olympics Canada partner for many years, Thrifty Foods have supported Special Olympics health programs and created opportunities for athletes, families, and coaches to access nutrition guides, cooking classes, and fresh food.
The Sobeys Nutrition Corner is an amazing resource for Special Olympics athletes to build their healthy bodies and minds. Included in the resources are Sobeys Nutrition Breaks, which offer bite-size nutrition sessions for Special Olympics athletes, coaches, volunteers and families/caregivers. Created so they can be delivered anywhere and by anyone, the Sobeys Nutrition Breaks cover many topics – the updated Canada Food Guide, Healthy Eating on the Go, Hydration, Mindful Eating, Testing Your Nutrition Knowledge, and more!
Visit the Sobeys Nutrition Corner
Special Olympics BC athlete Arianna Phillips says her favourite healthy recipe is making butter chicken with bell peppers for added nutrition. One of the tips she has implemented from the Sobeys Nutrition Corner is using peppers as a flavour builder, as mentioned in the handout about fruits and vegetables.
About the Partnership
Since 2016, Empire Company Limited stores across Canada have raised and donated more $5.4 million in food and funds to Special Olympics. They continue to provide run their significant annual fundraising campaign while also providing year-round support through nutrition education, event sponsorships, and employment opportunities for athletes nationwide.
As part of their commitment to Special Olympics, Thrifty Foods believes in the abilities of people with intellectual disabilities to achieve their dreams and to make a meaningful impact where they work, live, and play. Thrifty Foods’ partnership with Special Olympics includes support through fundraising initiatives, sponsoring National and Provincial Games, and donating gift cards and food to support various activities across the country.
Thrifty Foods is dedicated to helping Special Olympics athletes improve their health by providing healthy food and nutrition education, leading to both better performance and healthier lives.
In addition, many Thrifty Foods employees volunteer at Games and other Special Olympics events.
In B.C., funding from Thrifty Foods goes directly to grassroots Special Olympics BC programs around the province, and also supports Provincial Games and a wide range of provincial programs, events, and development opportunities that benefit athletes and volunteers throughout the Special Olympics BC community.
Get Involved
Be part of Special Olympics BC’s empowering and eye-opening year-round sport programs and change lives, including your own!