"We're just ever so grateful," says Huston after Food for All in Carman

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at Homestead Co-op food store in Carman Thursday for the first Food for All event, with Carman Food Pantry the recipient of every dollar raised and cart of food brought in. In total, because of your generosity, we raised $1,938.

"We're so appreciative of it," said Carman Food Pantry board chair Terra Huston at the end of the day. "We're so grateful you've picked Carman and the Carman Co-op to partner with the Carman Food Pantry. We can't be more pleased."

The foodbank has been operational for only about a year, and over that time, has experienced substantial growth in need. Huston noted, when they first started, they served about 30 households monthly. Now, they're serving up to 120 families a month but she noted the need has stabilized a bit over the last couple of months.

Carman Food Pantry operates monthly on Thursday's out of Carman Mennonite Church at 105 Main Street North.

Sandra Fidler is a Pantry client, and talked about the importance of the organization.

"It helps a lot in a lot of different ways," she shared. "With the Food Pantry, we get that extra food we can't afford right now, and it does help a lot of people in the community and the surrounding area of Carman. We just want to say thank you to the volunteers, and all the people that donate, because it does help families and seniors. They even offer dog and cat food. That is a very good opportunity for our whole town, and we don't want to lose it."

Carman Mayor Brent Owen dropped by the on-location broadcast heard Thursday on CFAM Radio 950, Eagle 93.5FM and Country88, and shared his gratitude to the community for its support.

"It's great," he said. "There are so many people in Carman that give so much for so many different organizations. This non-for-profit group is excellent, and they've only been doing this for about a year. It's great they are able to provide this service to our community."

Back to Huston, she stressed how grateful they were for Carman's support throughout the day, and shared this final story.

"I met a lady in here earlier, she's from out of town, and she wasn't going to come to Carman," she started "She heard it on the radio, and came to Carman and shopped today. The people that came, and stepped up and donated, we're just ever so grateful."

Next week, Food for All continues in Altona at Sun Valley Coop, and that’s Thursday, April 25th, from 9am to 6pm. This time around supporting the Rhineland and Area Foodbank.

- With files from Ronny Guenther and Nicole Klassen - 

Left to right; Country88 Morning Show Host Nicole Klassen and Carman Food Pantry's Terra Huston at Homestead Co-op Food Store in Carman Thursday morning