Ralph J Bruinsma (L) with Phil Rosenzweig of the Lethbridge Food Bank (Photo provided by Maral Kiani Tari)

By Justin Goulet

Lethbridge Food Bank receives $20,000 donation

Nov 29, 2020 | 7:05 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Lethbridge Food Bank has received a significant financial donation as the holiday season approaches.

Executive director Maral Kiani Tari says they’ve gotten a $20,000 donation from Ralph J Bruinsma, who owns Lo-Cost Propane and the Triangle Group of Companies with his wife Jane.

“It was actually quite a surprise to me and it’s such a generous and amazing donation from our community for our organization. It’s the holiday season and things are different this year, of course, for everyone,” Kiani Tari told LNN.

“On behalf of the Lethbridge Food Bank staff and the board of directors, we’re really grateful for this generous donation toward our organization [and] toward our community.”

She said COVID has caused a lot of uncertainty and hardship for many this holiday season.

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“We’re really here, we’re ready to be able to support our families and we’re encouraging and letting everyone know that we are open and we’re able to serve all who are struggling at this moment,” Kiani Tari stated.

“A donation like this is really important and crucial for our operation, for us to be able to support our community in need and to be able to continue operating even in the recovery stages of COVID.”

She said the donation was not specifically designated for one particular area within the Lethbridge Food Bank, but they do have a plan in place.

“Right now, we have spent a lot of funds purchasing food for our Christmas hampers, but the new year is when the donations are going to go down,” Kiani Tari explained.

“It’s [donations] something that historically, after the Christmas season, things tend to kind of quiet down a bit but our families are still using our supports, so we are allocating the donation to being able to support our families with access to food in the new year.”

WAYS TO HELP OUT

Kiani Tari said there are multiple ways for the community to help out. Food donations can be dropped off at the Lethbridge Food Bank (1016 2 Avenue S.) and funds can be donated online through the food bank’s website.

She added that they are looking for volunteers, especially over the winter season.

“We need that donation of time. We need volunteers in this season and upcoming Christmas time that we have, we’re going to be very busy and we need the help of the community to be able to provide our clients with hampers and food supports.”

The Lethbridge Food Bank is one of five local organizations taking part in the Christmas Hope campaign as well. More details on the annual initiative can be found here.