By Charlotte Morritt-Jacobs - (@morrittjacobs on Twitter)

Fifty-Grand on your Fiftieth

Apr 18, 2016 | 3:08 PM

LETHBRIDGE – Birthdays are typically celebrated with gifts; however, the word might be an understatement when it comes to the hefty $50,000 grant given to the Lethbridge Food Bank on Monday (April 18), on behalf of the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta.

Dennis Hatt, President of the Community Foundation, said that he is pleased to see the money going to an organization that invests multiple food initiatives in the community

“The food bank system in our region is consistently challenged by lack of resources and steady demand, regardless of the economy,” he said.

Each year the Lethbridge Food Bank moves around 50,000 lbs of food per month and provides regular food support for more than 1,600 client visits.

Cathy Gejdos, President of the Lethbridge Food Bank, said that the grant will improve both client intake privacy and food storage.

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“Right now with so many clients we are always on top of one another. When you first come in here let’s face it not where you were hoping to land,” she said.

Gedjos said that the private room will allow the Food Bank to serve individuals in a more respectable environment.

Gejdos smiled as she showed onlookers the soon to be expanded warehouse, register office and newly placed shelving units.

The Food Bank has occupied the same warehouse for nearly 30 years and while the grant will kick start the revitalization, the organization is seeking additional funds to complete building upgrades by mid-August 2016.