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
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.