Submitted
Bourgeault & Associates of IG Private Wealth Management have provided a $2,000 boost to the Battlefords District Food & Resource Centre in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Paul and Kelly Bourgeault from Bourgeault & Associates joined the Battlefords District Food & Resource Centre’s Executive Director, Erin Katerynych on Aug. 27 for a cheque presentation.
“We just thought that despite CERB and government assistance, which will come to an end, that there are going to be a lot of people challenged to meet their basic needs, so we wanted to step up to the plate,” said Paul Bourgeault. “We recognize that all charities are challenged with fundraising efforts during these times,” he added, but figured the food bank was the most immediate need.
In addition to $4,000 of food bank donations their team donated to food banks during the pandemic, Bourgeault explained they give back $5,000 annually to communities they serve.
“Life at the BDFRC has been busy and constantly evolving since the pandemic hit”, Erin Katerynych said. “We strive to better ourselves in order to meet the need of those struggling with food insecurity. We have more than doubled our food hamper size for families, so they don’t need to come in as often. When the pandemic hit, the number of families that used the food bank dropped but has slowly been climbing back up again. Forty-three per cent of our families are single parent households and 41 per cent of people helped were children. I predict our numbers to climb this fall as they slowly have been.”
Thanks to the generous support of Bourgeault & Associates, “We were able to purchase shelf stable food, in bulk at a reduced price, to ensure we continue to meet the needs of those struggling in poverty,” said Katerynych.
She went on to say, “Thanks to our brave volunteers and our many supporters in the Battlefords, the surrounding communities, the province and Canada, we have been able to keep our doors open for those who need us.”
