(file photo/LethbridgeNewsNow)

By David Opinko/LethbridgeNewsNow

Free Fry Day on May 29 aims to raise $100,000 for HALO Air Ambulance

May 23, 2020 | 11:23 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – An ambitious goal has been set by three local companies – raising $100,000 in a single day.

McCain Foods, Western Tractor, and J.E.B. Transport will host an event on Friday, May 29 in support of HALO Air Ambulance.

McCain will be giving away 7,000 free 6.5 lb bags of french fries at the Western Tractor dealerships in Medicine Hat, Burdett, Taber, and Lethbridge. All they ask in return is that you make an online donation.

HALO put out a statement last week saying that they are in dire need of financial assistance, as the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the cancellations of many fundraisers that they typically rely on.

CEO Paul Carolan says he is so grateful to see people come together so quickly to support them.

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“They’re really stepping up, both those family-level people challenging each other and now we have corporations challenging each other to do what they can – it’s an amazing fit. We’re so very very humbled and grateful, and without this support, we would absolutely be looking at a big scale back on the program.”

“$100,000 in a single day is a big ask, but Southern Alberta is incredible right? We’ve seen people rallying behind our cause, behind HALO, very very seriously and I do think it’s possible and we’re optimistic,” continues Carolan.

President of Western Tractor Steven Dyck says just about everyone in the region knows someone who has been helped by HALO at one point so he wanted to do his part to help them out.

While individual donations are encouraged, he hopes companies can contribute as well.

“We’re really appealing to businesses to actually step up and, basically, sponsor caseloads of the product that we can give away.”

There is also an element of supporting local potato growers.

Jeremy Carter, Senior Field Manager for McCain Foods Western Canada, told LNN that many farmers have been impacted by restaurant closures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re out here to support our grower base and help them. We need a sustainable grower base to maintain business past COVID and this is a great initiative to raise awareness on french fry consumption.”

7,000 bags of fries, according to Carter, is enough to fill up one of their large transport trucks.

While the Free Fry Day campaign officially takes place on May 29, Perry Produce kicked off fundraising efforts with a donation of $10,000.

To make a donation for Free Fry Day and for details on when and where it will be taking place, visit WesternTractorFreeFryDay.ca