It was a record-breaking year for the Good Neighbour Store in Humboldt.
On Monday, they made their annual presentation with money they were able to raise at the store to a variety of groups.
This year, the Good Neighbour Store was able to donate to 61 different organizations for a total of $463,000.
Since opening its doors 32 years ago, the Good Neighbour Store has donated $5,000,000 to programs in Humboldt and the surrounding area.
Chairperson Lisa Owen is grateful for all the support the Good Neighbour Store receives.
“We’re so thankful, first to all of our volunteers, and to the community of Humboldt and area, who continue to bring us those wonderful donations so that we can keep filling our shelves and donating back to our community.”
The St. Mary’s Villa Foundation was one of the organizations that received a donation from the Good Neighbour Store. With this year’s funds, the St. Mary’s Villa became the second group to receive over $1,000,000 from the Good Neighbour Store, the first one being the Humboldt District Hospital Foundation.
Another record-breaking number for the Good Neighbour Store is the volunteers that pitch in a helping hand. Owen explains the volunteers are the backbone of their group.
“We wouldn’t exist without them,” she said, “On average 140 people who come in five days a week and ensure the shelves are stocked and that everything is neat and tidy and organized, they are everything to us.”
Throughout the presentation, the majority of the recipients explained what projects they used the funding from the Good Neighbour Store. Owen says it’s very special to see what programs benefit from the Good Neighbour Store.
“It gives you goosebumps when you hear of all the wonderful organizations who received funding from the Good Neighbour Store and all the good they are doing in our community, especially for our youth and our seniors helping out with breakfast programs, libraries, senior centres, it’s just wonderful to hear the difference that we’re making in our community.”