An $85,000 Community Gaming Grant was announced for the Friends In Need Food Bank during the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train event Tuesday evening at Port Haney Station.
The food bank was one of 145 recipients of the grants from across B.C. through the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.
This years grant was an increase of $18,000 over last years grant of $67,000
“I’m very glad that the food bank was able to get a lift in this year’s grant because it helps hundreds of people each month in such a practical way,” said Maple Ridge-Mission MLA Marc Dalton.
“During this time of year our donations, our contributions, food and cash donations, are a wonderful boost,” said food bank acting executive director Mary Robson. “But it is the gaming grant that really carries the food bank for the rest of the year.”
The grant money will go to purchasing food for Friends in Need clients.
The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train raised an additional 2,566 pounds of food and $3,032 for the Friends In Need Food Bank.
The Holiday Train started its journey across Canada three weeks ago from Beaconsfield, Que.
It featured thousands of Christmas lights and a boxcar stage for live musical entertainment at each stop along the way. Musical performers included Doc Walker, Miss Emily and Brothers Dube.
Since its inception in 1999, the event has raised over $6.4 million and over 2.6 million pounds of food for local food banks across both Canada and the United States.
Other local Community Gaming Grant recipients were the Maple Ridge Historical Society ($25,000) and the One Way Club ($75,000).
• For the record: The Ridge Meadows Food Bank, located in Pitt Meadows, is not affiliated with the Friends in Need Food Bank.