A $1,000 cheque from the Altona Elks will go a long way in helping the Rhineland and Area Foodbank meet demand.
Members Guy and Colleen Mullen presented the money, from the Manitoba Elks Foundation, to foodbank lead, Ang Stoesz, on Wednesday evening.
"Every year, they (the Foundation) give all the money they make to different lodges to help people. Everything from medical assistance to this foodbank, which was their first foodbank donation," explained Guy. "We were very very shocked and very very pleased that they called Altona up and handed us a cheque for a thousand dollars."
According to Guy, the Altona lodge has long wanted to help support the Rhineland and Area Foodbank.
"Ang has long told me that, when the summer months come, that there's people that are not getting enough food. I know it's not a lot of money, but it's something."
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Because the foodbank has the ability to purchase food in bulk or at a discount from local stores, Guy says they'll be able to stretch that $1,000 even further.
The Elks' main mission is to help make an impact in the lives of children, and Guy explained how this donation fits in with that goal.
"Some of the families that are showing up have seven, eight or more children and, for them to go to bed without eating and try and get up and go to school or do something, this is not good at all. So, we figured, if we can help just a little bit. They spend a lot of money at this foodbank and more and more people are requiring the foodbank than ever before."
According to Stoesz, the Rhineland and Area foodbank spent a shade over $10,000 on groceries last month.
"A thousand dollars is a huge help to pay for all of those groceries," she said.
While the number of clients that access the foodbank varies from week to week, Stoesz says it's usually in that 60 to 70 household range.