By Kellah Lavoie

Food bank receives much needed donation

Jan 30, 2011 | 3:30 PM

Ron Bergen is referring to a new donation as a “godsend.”

The executive director of the Prince Albert Share-a-Meal/Food Bank found out this weekend that they are receiving $50,666 from Potash Corp.

The company made the announcement on Friday that they are distributing $1 million to food banks across the province.

“It was a real surprise and what a relief because we are always going around for money and are pushing for on this addition and every year we are spending $15,000 to $17,000 on food,” Bergen said.

He said the shelves are full right now due the generosity the food bank received over the Christmas season, but he would like to put the money to buying healthy food like fruits, vegetables and milk.

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“It will end up putting our budget up for food, but that was money we were not counting on and we can use it to make it more nutritional,” he said.

Rhonda Speiss, Potash Corp manager of corporate philanthropy, said the money was divided by hundred-count in each food bank. She said each March food banks count how many people they serve. Potash Corp used that number to calculate how much money each food bank would get.

She said the charity fits the cause.

“As a fertilizer company, feeding people is certainly important to us. Our products really help feed the world, but we think it is important to start here at home, people don’t realize how much hunger we have in our own province,” she said.

She said the food banks can use the money however they see fit.

Bergen said the money came in the nick-of-time.

The food bank just found out they are not receiving a grant they were counting for a new walk-in cooler. It costs $8,000.

He said that is all they planning on taking from the Potash Corp money to go towards the building’s addition.

“Every time we seem to get into a crunch, all of a sudden boom, something comes up. Last time we had to make a move, someone passed away and left us enough money where we could get into the building we’re in now,” he said adding someone must be looking out for them.

“This money now is kind of a godsend, maybe we can do more things now with the people and a little more nutrition and help out that way,” he said.

The cheque from Potash Corp should arrive sometime this week.

klavoie@panow.com