Members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba gave a standing ovation to the Steinbach Family Resource Centre (SFRC) and Staples in Steinbach Thursday afternoon.

Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen gave a member's statement and highlighted the Staples school supplies fundraiser where $8,242 was raised this summer for the Steinbach Family Resource Centre to purchase school supplies. This year's fundraiser was the highest amount ever raised by the Steinbach Staples location and SFRC Executive Director Vicki Olatundun says they were able to provide school supplies for 195 children to go back to school prepared.

Dustin Lynes and General Manager Gerald Jeske from Staples, MLA Kelvin Goertzen, Steinbach Family Resource Centre Executive Director Vicki Olatundun at the Manitoba Legislature.Olatundun says it was exciting to know the work the centre does and the issues she fights for every day came to the attention of the provincial government and hopes this presentation will bring even more attention and notice to those issues.

"It's a great way a partnership can be formed between a private business and a not-for-profit organization to ensure the needs of people are being met," says Goertzen. "To ensure that young people whose families might not be able to afford the school supplies that are necessary in our school system don't have to struggle to get those supplies and don't have to feel that they are somehow set apart or not part of the school in the way that they should."

Goertzen says his mother was a single parent when he was young after his father passed away and there were people, often anonymous, and organizations who helped their family. He adds the people of the Steinbach community are generous and are a group of people worth bragging about for their willingness to step in, step up and help those who are struggling in a circumstance out of their control.

"They rely sometimes on the government, sometimes the community, sometimes it's neighbours, sometimes it's people they'll never know but that really is what a community is about. About trying to fill the gaps when there are needs, when there are people who are struggling with circumstances that they really had nothing to do with and are beyond their control. So, it's great for Staples to step up and partner with Steinbach Family Resource Centre."

Goertzen notes he has been one of many fortunate individuals to feel the support of the community and organizations put in place to help others.

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