Denham Ford’s 11th annual Hometown for Hunger event raised more than $6,500 in support of the Cranbrook Salvation Army’s local food programs.
Money raised through the event is invested in the StellerVista Credit Union Endowment Fund, which provides the Cranbrook Salvation Army with an annual grant to support its local food programs. The annual grant is generated through the fund and is separate from the total raised at this year’s event.
Each month, the Cranbrook Salvation Army provides more than 4,200 meals, including approximately 2,555 school lunches, 1,250 on-site community meals and 405 meals delivered to people unable to leave their homes.
“With the need in the community continuing to grow, and food prices on the rise, every dollar counts, and we sincerely appreciate all the support from the community,” said Salvation Army Captain Geoff Butt.
Hometown for Hunger raised more than $11,500 in 2025 and more than $8,500 in 2024.
Steve Zsillei, Denham Ford marketing manager and event co-organizer, thanked the community for its continued support.
“Throughout our 11 years of holding this event, we’ve raised a total of over $70,000 to tackle hunger in our community and show our care for our friends and neighbours who are in need,” Zsillei said.
Sponsors also rallied around the community event. Hargreaves Mechanical filled the dunk tank, Culligan provided the ice, Prestige Inn provided towels, Tim Hortons brought the Timbits, and the Rockin’ in the Rockies Car Club Cranbrook BC brought its classic cars.
Denham Ford team member Corey Ford successfully defended his title in the highly anticipated Timbit-eating contest, taking home a gift basket donated by local Grimm’s representative Nickolas Zsillei.
Hometown for Hunger also featured a lineup of food vendors, including Mr. Mike’s – Cranbrook, Sasquatch Grub Shack, The Gifted Chef Filipino Fusion Cuisine and the Top Crop ice cream truck.
The dunk tank featured several community personalities from around Cranbrook, including Visit Cranbrook’s Sven Sloeserwij, Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce president Travis-Dean Bradley, Chamber vice-president Sheldon Doll, Kayla May from Pattison Media’s Rewind Radio, and several Rockin’ in the Rockies Car Club members.
For the 2026 event, Denham Ford and StellerVista Credit Union each donated $1,000.
“In the early years, the goal was to provide an annual grant of $500, and, in 2026, the fund granted $5,500 of much-needed support to our local Cranbrook Salvation Army food programs,” said Lynnette Wray, CFKR executive director.
There is still time to make a tax-receiptable charitable donation to the 2026 Hometown for Hunger event:
- Credit card: Donate through CanadaHelps.
- E-transfer: Send to Lynnette.Wray@CFKRockies.ca, including “H4H-2026” in the notes along with the donor’s email address, mailing address and phone number.
- Cheque: Make payable to CFKR, noting “H4H-2026” in the memo and including the donor’s email address and phone number. Mail to CFKR at Box 242, Cranbrook, BC, V1C 4H8, or deliver it to the CFKR office in the Ground Floor Coworking Space at 131 7th Ave. S., Cranbrook.
- Cash: Deliver to the CFKR office in the Ground Floor Coworking Space at 131 7th Ave. S., Cranbrook.
- Employer-matching donation programs: Some employers match employees’ charitable donations through services such as Benevity.
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