The Canora Ag Society strives to support worthy local causes, and members were pleased to donate just over $1,625 to the Canora Filling the Gap Food Bank on December 14.
The money was the full amount from the sale of a 4-H steer purchased from Codee Kopelchuk of the Good Spirit 4-H club, at the Yorkton Regional 4-H Show & Sale in July, said Ivan Olynyk, Ag Society director. Olynyk said the group aims to purchase a 4-H steer from a member of the Good Spirit club each and every year.
Olynyk said the original intention was to make the donation shortly after the group sold the steer, but many members suddenly got very busy.
“We have a number of farmers in the Ag Society and they had to look after the harvest, which came a little early this year. Then we spoke to Pastor Mavis Watson of the food bank, and decided to make the donation just before Christmas when the need is often the greatest.”
Olynyk said the Ag Society appreciates the financial support of Canora and the surrounding area for the group’s two main fundraisers each year, the Farmers Night Out just before seeding in April and Ag Days in August. He said the group places a priority on reinvesting money raised back into the local community.
Watson was pleasantly surprised and pleased when Olynyk approached her about making the donation.
“This is very much in the spirit of the season. This money will put us over the top so that we will have enough to purchase foods such as turkeys, ham and potatoes for the Christmas hampers.”
Watson said she expects to distribute 40 to 45 Christmas hampers this year, and “it gives me such joy to be able to help folks.”
Thanks to earlier donations of dry goods, Watson has been able to shift her attention to purchasing the food.
She said the Ag Society donation allows her to start building up a surplus for January, which unfortunately is very busy for the food bank. She finds in many cases families spend all their money on Christmas, and then don’t have anything left over for buying food in the new year.
The Canora Ambulance Yuletide Toy Drive, in addition to accumulating toys for needy local families, has proven to be an important partner for the food bank. Watson said families who receive toys for Christmas are often in need of hampers from the food bank.
Watson said she has never had to turn away anyone at Christmas due to lack of food and money, and thanks to donations such as the one by the Ag Society, it looks like that perfect record will continue for at least one more year.
