The Regina Food Bank as well as ones in Moose Jaw, Swift Current and Yorkton are getting cash donations from a Calgary company that owns and operates rental housing units in all four cities.
The 16-and-a-half-thousand dollars being given by Avenue Living is part of an overall $100,000 donation that is being shared amongst 17 food banks or similar community organizations across the Prairies.
The breakdown sees Regina get $7,000 with Yorkton getting $4,500 and Moose Jaw and Swift Current each getting $2,500. Avenue Living has over 1,500 rental housing units in the four cities .
Avenue Living’s Chief Operations Officer is Louise Elsey. She says this is an initiative that she is firmly behind because of the good it will do.
“This is wonderful. Personally, it is one of the highlights of the work I do.” Elsey said. “We know times are tough for everyone right now and this pandemic is putting a great strain on families and food banks who are trying to cope so we hope this allows those food banks to get the critical food supplies needed and help those who are suffering right now. ”
In addition, as a special appreciation toward front line workers, 500 units of available rental housing have been offered at a special price to the hard-working people across the Prairies. These are available to nurses, veterans, law enforcement and protection services workers, students and seniors. Just under 150 of these suites have been leased, with the majority of them rented at a 20 per cent discount.