Vanderhoof’s residents in need received a surprise rainfall of support this season.
On May 20, $5,150 of Your Independent Grocer gift cards were presented to NeighbourLink at its hot dog fundraiser for the community food bank.
The lunch barbecue, funded by the grocery store, also raised over $900 in cash for the non-profit group.
“This is one more example of the extraordinary support that the community of Vanderhoof gives to NeighbourLink,” said Henry Bucher, the organization’s financial officer. “We try to respond to people’s needs and the community respond.”
The funds, totalling over $6,000, will go a long way towards the cash purchases NeighbourLink will make for the next 10 months, Bucher added.
“We thank the community of Vanderhoof,” he said. “Amen.”
The gift card donation came from reward points earned and donated by the store’s customers for the past year, explained store owner-operator Jim Mackie.
“It’s from the town, the people from the community,” Mackie said. “Got to thank the customers for the donation.”
Working closely with the local bank, the store donates $2,500 of damaged goods a month to the organization, including extra fresh goods with packaging issues, he said, adding that he hopes to make the fundraiser an annual event.