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Canadian retailer London Drugs is getting in on 150 festivities this month, as its #Welcoming150 initiative continues.
The program and donation drive is aiming to support 150 new Canadian families, from across Western Canada, who came to this country fleeing unsafe circumstances.
The program began May 19, and will run until Canada Day. Through it, individual London Drugs locations across the west will “adopt” local families in their area and ask customers to donate the specific items those families need.
All the donation will then be delivered to the participating 150 families across Western Canada before July 1.
“Welcoming and helping newcomers distinguishes what makes Canada great,” said Clint Mahlman, executive vice president and chief operating officer of London Drugs. “As a proud family-owned 72-year-old Canadian company, we will also be contributing corporately, alongside the donations from our customers and staff, to ensure each family’s immediate needs are met.”
Mahlman says the inspiration behind the initiative is two-fold. First, it provides continued support for new Canadian families who come from unsafe backgrounds. Second, it honours the legacy of Tong Louie, whose family acquired London Drugs in 1945 and grew the company to what it is today.
In 1914, Louie was born to an immigrant Chinese family who owned a wholesale food business and the Louie family have been instrumental in shaping today’s retail industry in Canada.
According to KCR Community Resources, many newly arrived Canadian families still need support, and would benefit from donations of hygiene products, kitchen wares, linens, food, book and games.
“We are grateful to people in the Central Okanagan for their generosity in supporting six families in the region,” said Katelin Mitchell, the manager of immigrant services at KCR. “On behalf of the families we work with, we would like to thank everyone for truly reinforcing our Canadian values, and showing what it means to be Canadian during this very special time in the country’s history.”
You can learn more about London Drugs’ #Welcoming150 initiative here http://www.londondrugs.com/welcoming150
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