$10K worth of formula donated to Harvest

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This article was published 06/01/2015 (3925 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Eleven-year-old Atticus McIlraith’s second annual baby formula drive has raised over $10,000 worth of formula for Winnipeg Harvest.

McIlraith, who lives in Fort Rouge, began his campaign in early December and had hoped to raise about $3,000 in baby formula as part of Winnipeg Harvest’s Hunger for Hope campaign, doubling what he raised in 2013.

“I can’t believe that we raised over $10,000,” McIlraith said. “Let me tell you — it wasn’t easy.”

As part of his formula drive, McIlraith spent a fair amount of time telling his story to local media.

He also secured some community partners including local churches and schools, businessman Walt Morris, and CN Railway.

“CN heard about me and they wanted to get involved,” McIlraith said. “And it was a big surprise to me because when I was at Harvest CN gave me a $1,000 cheque.”

Winnipeg Harvest’s David Northcott said there is much to learn from McIlraith’s enthusiasm for helping others.

“Atticus is such an inspiring and dynamic young man, and Harvest is really lucky to have him in our corner,” Northcott said. “To have such extraordinary compassion at such a young age is rare and remarkable. I thank Atticus and his family for their support, and the many people who rallied behind him during this campaign.”

McIlraith said he is also grateful for the help he has received from the community.

“I wasn’t the only one who did this– it was everyone who participated. It was my corporate sponsor, it was CN, it was all the churches, it was the school. It was all the community.”

“I wasn’t the only one who did this — it was everyone who participated. It was my corporate sponsor, it was CN, it was all the churches, it was the school. It was all the community. Anyone who donated money or baby formula, those are the people who help make these kinds of things happen,” he said.

McIlraith plans to repeat the formula drive again next year.

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