The Morden Community Thrift Store held it's bi-annual granting period earlier this month and gave back $165,561 to the community who graciously supported them.

"It is wonderful for us. That is the best day of the year when we get to contribute to the community," said thrift store president Jean Hildebrand. "That's what we are there for."

This money was donated to a variety of organizations, serving a variety of age groups.

Some of the larger donations were to organizations in the health field including $32,000 to the Boundary Trails Health Centre's Palliative Care department. This money will be used to purchase new furniture and the furnishings for a new palliative care room.

Another considerable donation was given to the new Tabor Home. $22,500 was donated for a new sound system for the chapel and a camera for CATV, which allows residents to view the service from their room.

"The Thrift Shop has been very very generous to us in the last two years since we have been building our new tabor home. We have received quite a few donations and they've just been so great to us. We can't thank them enough," said Wilf Warkentine, Chair of the tabor home board.

Warkentine stated in the current Tabor Home if residents would like to attend a service or entertainment in the chapel they have to go there or be brought there. This new system will allow the residents who would rather stay in their individual rooms and watch the service and or entertainment

The other twelve organizations receiving funding are below;

- Agassiz Medical Clinic - $4,600, for four pieces of equipment
- Boundary Trails Health Care - $500, for outdoor flowers
- Darlingford Fire Department - $10,000, for new Jaws of Life
- Morden Fire Department - $20,000, for new Jaws of Life and rescue equipment
- Morden Police Department - $5,600, for a new taser and an approved screening device.
- Rock Lake United Church Camp - $6,000, for camp programs
- Pembina Valley Bible Camp - $20,000, for campership and a truck.
- Winkler Bible Camp - $5,000, for beach shelters
- Morden Christian Program Committee - $6,000
- Youth For Christ - $12,000 + $10,000, as ($1,000 monthly basis) and $10,000 for counselling services
- Morden Collegiate Institute - $1,000, for six bursaries
- Morden Little League Baseball $5,361, for a new pitching machine, field maintenance, and portable pitching mound