Ten non-profit groups received a helping hand from the Robinson family, Jan. 19, after it divvied out $9,500 in cash and food cards.
For the past six years, Ray Robinson and Diana Laarz, owners of Robinsons Foods, have donated around $10,000 each year to local non-profit organizations in need.
鈥淲e are a local, family-operated business so it鈥檚 our responsibility to support local groups,鈥� said Laarz, adding this year the store received the fewest number of applications for grants.
鈥淚t actually makes us feel good, too,鈥� she said of giving back to the community.
To receive funding, local organizations are encouraged to submit an application indicating what kind of support they are looking for and whether the funding is for a specific event or activity in the community. The deadline every year is Dec. 31 and the donations are distributed in January.
In order to have the biggest impact, Laarz said the grants aren鈥檛 given out to individuals or families.
As with previous years, this year鈥檚 list was diverse, with money going to everyone from the Jasper Pride Festival Society to the Jasper Seniors Society.
Other groups that received funding included the Glacier Football Club, Alpine Summit Seniors Lodge, Jasper Curling Club, Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Archives, Jasper Junior/High School Scholarship Fund, Jasper Folk and Blues Society, Les Petits Cailloux Preschool and Friends of Jasper Childcare Society.
Representatives from almost all of the organizations were on hand at Robinsons Foods to receive cheques and food cards and to thank the grocery store for its support.
Paul Clarke [email protected]
