Carol Baldwin
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Wakaw Recorder
An annual fundraiser is back for another year in Western Canada.
Fuel Good Day sees participating Co-op gas bars in western Canada, donating a minimum of five cents per litre of fuel purchased to a local registered charity or non-profit organization. On Sept. 17, 2024, customers purchasing any grade of gasoline and diesel fuel will contribute to the total donation made to a selected local organization or cause.
Recipient organizations include local schools, community centres, libraries, hospitals, food banks and more. All donations from Co-op gas bars on Fuel Good Day are invested in the community.
Since 2017, Co-op fuel customers have helped raise more than 4.31 million dollars and over 870 local organizations have been assisted to do what they do best in their communities. In 2023, Co-op members and customers across western Canada raised more than $645,000, for over 168 local organizations and causes, in a single day of purchasing something they needed anyhow.
In previous years, funds raised on Fuel Good Day have supported community organizations that provide comfort and assistance to children and their families during difficult times, foundations that work to upgrade medical equipment to improve patients’ lives and experiences, and groups that make it easier for kids to play the sports they love.
For the second year in a row, the Good Neighbours Food Centre has been selected as one of the recipient organizations. The Saskatoon Co-op gas bar in Rosthern will help the GNFC restock the shelves, for the many families that come to them for food aid, with its donation from the fundraiser. Last year, the Saskatoon Co-op raised over $31,000 to donate to local causes.
Saskatoon Co-op is a locally owned co-operative serving Saskatoon, Martensville, Warman, Colonsay, Watrous, Hepburn, Waldheim, Rosthern, and Dalmeny. This year’s selected Fuel Good Day local charities are in Saskatoon, Community Living Association Saskatoon Inc – CLASI; in Warman, Warman Food Bank; in Vonda, Vonda Wapiti Regional Public Library; in Martensville, Martensville Food Pantry; in Colonsay, Colonsay School Breakfast Program; in Hepburn, Hepburn Fire Department; in Watrous, Interlake Human Resources Corporation; in Waldheim, Shekinah Retreat Centre; in Rosthern, Good Neighbours Food Centre; and Dalmeny, Dalmeny Co-operative Playschool.
With more than 160 local independent co-operative associations, in more than 600 communities across Western Canada, Co-op has more than two million Co-op members and more than 23,500 employees. These local Co-ops own and operate agro centres, food stores, gas bars/convenience stores and home centres, which in turn support the communities where they are located.
