The 2017 fundraising season is winding down for supporters of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.

The 2017 harvest is complete with the last two fields being the BMW field of soybeans near Fairfax and a 50-acre field of wheat near Thunder Bay. The Canadian Foodgrains Bank now waits for reports to come in before knowing exactly how the year has been. But in general, reports are the crops in the region were very good this year. Some report record crops, especially the wheat and canola crops. Many of the soybean fields suffered because rains did not come when needed.

“Support from projects in Manitoba helps out around the world. We do work in about 40 countries and right now on everybody’s mind are some of the serious refugee issues we have” said Harold Penner regional representative with the CFGB.

There are 65 million people displaced from their homes with most due to conflict but many others because of disasters like floods and drought.

“Apparently it’s the biggest number since the last world war and it’s the biggest number in history.”

This is the first year of another 5 year-$25 million/year arrangement with the federal government and Penner says it feels good to be at the start of a new five year cycle. “We also just received an extra $1 million for work with the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh at this time so two of our partners are working there and that won’t be the only money that goes into that for sure.”

November is a busy month for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank and a number of the projects have their own gatherings as well.

CFGB will hold its fall banquets on November 21st at the Milltown Colony near Elie and the following day November 22nd in Brandon.

Supporters are encouraged to come and enjoy a meal together as we celebrate the past year. People also have the opportunity to hear from Putso, someone who is working in several countries in her own continent of Africa, to help people grow more and better food on their own small farms.

“The purpose of the fall meetings is to get our supporters together to tell them a little bit about what is happening in the world and what they are supporting and to celebrate the year. We invite people to come and join us. We’ve had a good year in Manitoba with more than 5,000 acres growing in the province in 2017” said Penner.