Let them eat Lethbridge Spaghetti!

In October 1914, southern Alberta rallied to send supplies to Belgium as part of the Belgian relief fund.

The relief fund was arranged to supply food to German-occupied Belgium (and northern France) during the First World War. Belgium was facing a food shortage and citizens were facing starvation.

So a call went out internationally to support Belgium and residents of southern Alberta were among those who answered the call.

An 80,000 pound CPR train car was loaded here in Lethbridge and the CPR offered to carry it free of charge to the destination.

Donations had been received from across the area, including Whitla, Warner, Taber, Raymond, Magrath, Monarch, Champion and more.

Members of the LDS of Taylor Stake donated 40,000 pounds of flour.

Lethbridge teachers put together a donation of $100. When they asked to what purpose they should put their money, it was decided that the best idea was to use the money to send spaghetti. Mr. Marinaro, of the pasta factory, was called upon to supply 2,000 pounds of macaroni and spaghetti. He donated an extra 500 pounds to the cause and 2500 pounds of pasta was added to the train car.

The Belgian Relief Fund continued throughout the War along with many other fundraising programs and events to support soldiers, their families and other countries and communities.

Attached is a 1917 poster for Belgian Relief.