The Morden Thrift Store donated $500,000 back to the community last week as part of their annual dispersal of funds.

Store representatives explain the board of directors look for ways to benefit the entire community. One of the largest donations, $250,000, was made to Boundary Trails Health Centre Foundation for their expansion project.

"This is awesome, this is a great first step, it just shows that we have our communities behind us," says BTHC Foundation Executive Director Shannon Samatte-Folkett. "They understand that we're full here and we need to expand. They believe in our vision so it's been awesome already to have that ready."

The $250,000 was the second Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) given to the foundation for their future expansion. The money is contingent on the approval of the project.

The foundation has been working on expansion plans for the past two years in response to the region's population growth. Plans include creating a service centre, moving office space out of the hospital to free up room for medical services.

The three-phase expansion is still in the planning stage, awaiting government approval.

In addition to the GIC, $88,500 was given to the foundation for the palliative care program for new equipment, and other equipment in the hospital.

Other recipients included Habitat for Humanity which received $50,000, Pembina Counselling Centre saw $20,000, Pregnancy Care Centre $30,000 and Morden Fire Department received $18,000.

Rock Lake United Church Camp - $7,500 for campership funds.
Pembina Valley Bible Camp - $7,500 for campership funds.
Morden Collegiate - $6,000 for bursaries.
Morden Christian Program Committee - $6,000 for its programs.
Healthy Minds - $5,000 for the Western School Division breakfast program.
Darlingford fire department - $5,000 for truck upgrades.
Morden minor baseball - $4,000 for upkeep of ball diamonds.
Agassiz Medical Centre - $2,240 for a new scale and blood pressure cuffs
Boundary Trails Health Centre - $500 for its flower committee.