With spring right around the corner, the Central Alberta Growing Project in support of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank is looking to secure land for this year's charity crop.

Doug Maas with the project explains what their needs are.

“We’re looking for 160 acres for this year, but in other years it’s been smaller acreages, sometimes 110, 120 acres.  We’re grateful with whatever we can get in Lacombe County, whatever farmer is able to come forward to either donate land or cash rent some land to us”.

Maas says they will work with the landowner in terms of crop rotation.

The group has enjoyed a lot of support in the Lacombe area over the years and it's helped them raise a lot of money.

“We had a very successful year last year, it was our best year in terms of fundraising, we raised $117,000 which we sent to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank to help people around the world, and of course that money is matched 4-1 by the Canadian government.  So with that momentum from last year we’re eagerly looking for some land for this year to do another project which will be our 23rd year”.

The Canadian Foodgrains Bank helps with food aid projects around the globe.

Maas explains where they are currently investing funds.

“Just a few weeks ago they approved another series of projects, there’s going to be a nutrition project in Bangladesh which will benefit about 23,000 people and a food assistance project in Kenya which should benefit 10,000 people.  So they do a great job in finding out where the need is the greatest”.

If you have farmland that would meet the projects needs or are interested in more information, contact Doug Maas at 403-782-1860.