Poppin’ for a purpose: Saint John business sells gourmet popcorn and helps the hungry
A newly opened gourmet popcorn shop in the city of Saint John is serving up classic movie theatre snacks from its brightly coloured west side space, while setting aside a portion of its profits each month to help the hungry.
‘Poppn’, located on Catherwood Street, officially opened its doors for business on Saturday.
Customers at the shop can choose their own popcorn seasonings and candy, along with either cotton candy or a drink.
Owner Mark Curran says that the response from the community has been incredible with more than 300 customers already, after only being open for a few days.
“We had people lined out the door Saturday, we had people lined out the door on Sunday,” says Curran, “The response on Facebook, almost 17,000 people have seen our posts and seen our page, it’s insane.”
The business plans to give back to the community by giving five percent of their gross margin to a local food bank each month. It’s an idea that came to Curran after getting sick last year.
“I wasn’t able to eat for a while, and for the first time in my life I really experienced hunger,” says Curran. “So after I got better, when I was driving by the food bank, my perspective changed on what those people go through.”
The first to be chosen is the North End Food Bank – part of their sales from Oct. 16 to Nov. 30 will go to that facility.
“I want this to be a fundraising machine that a lot of people get excited about on family movie night, or coming after a hockey game,” says Curran.
“You know your dollars are going to someone in need and can really help fight food insecurity.”
Serving up snacks, and helping the hungry, one bag of popcorn at a time.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
NEW Iconic Canadian song turns 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Oprah Winfrey: I set an unrealistic standard for dieting
Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday evening that she has long played a role in promoting unhealthy and unrealistic diets.
Prince Harry, Meghan arrive in Nigeria to champion the Invictus Games and meet with wounded soldiers
Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, arrived in Nigeria on Friday to champion the Invictus Games, which he founded to aid the rehabilitation of wounded and sick servicemembers and veterans, among them Nigerian soldiers fighting a 14-year war against Islamic extremists.
Countries struggle to draft 'pandemic treaty' to avoid mistakes made during COVID
After the coronavirus pandemic triggered once-unthinkable lockdowns, upended economies and killed millions, leaders at the World Health Organization and worldwide vowed to do better in the future. Years later, countries are still struggling to come up with an agreed-upon plan for how the world might respond to the next global outbreak.
Toronto police called to Drake's Bridle Path mansion for another alleged intruder on Thursday
Toronto police say a man who allegedly attempted to access Drake’s Bridle Path property was taken to hospital on Thursday after an altercation with security guards.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Flat tire on a highway? Here's why you shouldn't try to fix it
If you're cruising down a highway and realize you have a flat tire, you may want to think twice before stopping to fix it on the side of the road.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.