A recent $250,000 donation by CIBC to Alberta Food Banks is helping keep local food banks afloat.

The donation is the largest single amount ever made to the valuable charity.

Lori McRitchie, Executive Director of the Airdrie Food Bank and the First Vice Chair of the Alberta Food Banks Network Association says they were ecstatic about the news.

"We were informed late last week that this major substantial donation had happened and that CIBC is reaching out, acknowledging that our province is having some struggles these days and that they wanted to do something to help."

The Alberta Food Banks Network Association, couldn't contain their excitement.

"When we heard, the emails were flying," said McRitchie. "This is just going to mean additional support for rural food banks as well as for the bigger ones. It just is a gift to all of us to be able to know that we have some sustainable funding or some food that's going to carry us through these hard days."

Still at capacity, McRitchie says the Food Banks Christmas donations have kept up with recent demand despite seeing a 65 to 85% increase.

"We are still giving hampers, we are meeting the needs, people are having to come more regularly to us, people's EI we're seeing is starting to run out or their severance packages. Many people have been impacted by this downturn."

Acting as a hub for Alberta Food Banks, Airdrie provides extra resources to outlying communities and other rural banks - which is where the donation will help greatly.

"We have not had to cut services as of yet with our numbers being up so much. Not all food banks in Alberta have been as lucky as we are," says McRitchie, "This donation as far as I understand is going to go to support many of the food banks and that means the ones in the surrounding communities as well."

The money will be distributed over two years to help Alberta Food Banks and their increasing needs, it remains to be seen whether that will translate to more food support or financial assistance but regardless, McRitchie knows the money will be put to good use.

"We are all Albertans, we all live here together and I think we owe it to each other to take care of our neighbours whether they live in Airdrie or whether they live in Irricana or Kathyrn or wherever that happens to be."

Bradley Jones - airdrienews@goldenwestradio.com