Local Man Andrew Parnell Is On a Mission To End Nation Wide Hunger With Panda Feeds Canada
/Peterborough local, Andrew Parnell, has his sights set on ending nation wide hunger - and he is going to do it on Instagram.
Photo courtesy of Panda Feeds Canada.
In early March of 2021 Parnell started the Instagram page PandaFeedsCanada.
The name comes from the nickname ‘Panda Parnell’ given to him in elementary school.
The goal is to gain enough followers to have the ability to present advertisements and sponsorships via the social media platform. Once he is able to do so 100 percent of revenue generated on Instagram will be donated to food shares across the country, he says.
Before he started on this journey a close friend of his passed away and he was laid off from his construction job for the winter.
“I just decided ‘you know what, I need to do something more productive with my time,” Parnell said. “ I figured this was the best way I could possibly make an impact of my community, follow in my parents footsteps and be a hardworking volunteer.”
Parnells parents, Don and Lesley Parnell, spend much of their time volunteering around the community. Lesley represents the Otonabee Ward on City Council and plays a major role in the Festival of Lights. She is a recipient of a Peterborough Volunteer of the Year Award.
Don is a recent inductee into the Peterborough Pathway of Fame having played a major role in the staging of the annual Victoria Day fireworks presentation over Little Lake and serving as a full-time member of the Pedal For Hope support team.
Amanda Shaw from Real Canadian Superstore, Ashlee Aitkins from Kawartha Foodshare and Andrew Parnell from Panda Feeds Canada. Parnell often stands outside of grocery stores accepting monetary and food donations for Kawartha Food Share. Pictures is Aitkins accepting a $1000 donation to Kawartha Food Share on June 10, 2021. Photo courtesy of Panda Feeds Canada.
“Most donations to this point have been my close friends and family really wanting to help out and launch the name Panda Feeds Canada,” said Parnell.
Panda Feeds Canada does not currently accept donations, but Parnell directs those interested in donating to Kawartha Food Share and will celebrate the donor on his Instagram page.
“If a small business wants to make a donation to the Food Share, I can do a little write up and post their business on my page,” he said. “I’m starting small but I’d love to get some bigger companies on board when I gain more followers.”
Panda Feeds Canada also hosts giveaways and raffles on Instagram with any monetary proceeds going directly to the Kawartha Foodshare.
In June Parnell hosted the first annual Panda Feeds Canada Golf Tournament at Keystone Links Golf and Country Club and donated $6100 to Kawartha Food Share.
Parnell presents the Kawartha Food Share with $6100 raised at the first annual Panda Feeds Canada Golf Tournament. Photo courtesy of Panda Feeds Canada.
