Steinbach MCC handed cheques Friday to ten local charities worth a total of fifty thousand dollars.

Chair Gordon Kornelson says this is the second consecutive December they've done this. The recipients this year are Youth For Christ Steinbach, Youth For Christ Landmark, South East Helping Hands, Soup's On, Today House, Eden Foundation, HavenGroup, Steinbach Community Outreach, Steinbach Family Resource Centre and Recreation Opportunities for Children (ROC).

"The ten different local charities provide relief of human suffering," says Kornelson. "And that's one of our goals and they match right in that."

Kornelson explains the way it works, the charities drop off an application and then a committee goes through those applications looking for charities that have the same vision as MCC. He notes most of the products that are sold at the store are donated by people living in the surrounding area.

Irene Kroeker"We would like to give back to those people that have given to us," he says.

Irene Kroeker accepted the money Friday on behalf of Steinbach Community Outreach. She told those present that she already knows how she will use some of the money.

"After I leave here I'm going to help that family with five children who are struggling this Christmas," says Kroeker. "Last week the father was laid off in his work place and they have no way of meeting their rent payment, never mind have a chance to purchase gifts and food. Your donation will help me help this family to be secure in their rent during this season and due to your generosity I think we can afford to add a few extras."

Henry KlassenHenry Klassen of HavenGroup says the money will be used for a particular project at Rest Haven. Klassen explains over the last couple of years upgrades have been done at the thirty year old facility. Upgrades to the sixty resident rooms included adding a new electric bed, dresser and bedside table. Their current project is to upgrade the blinds and curtains.

"The project that this grant will go for is to do that upgrade in the decor of the sixty resident home," says Klassen. "We believe it's important that we have a home there because there's the final home of people that live there. And we certainly want to do our best to provide a place for the residents and for the families that they can appreciate."

Moni LoewenMoni Loewen of ROC says as an organization, they have the privilege of working in the homes of children living in poverty. ROC currently works with thirty-five kids in the in-home stage and eighty in ongoing support.

"These kids don't have a lot of opportunity to join the fun activities that their classmates do, so we really provide that opportunity," says Loewen. "There's eleven thousand children at Eastman living in poverty, so we have a long way to go. This is going to make a really, really big difference and together we can all do this."

"The response is just tremendous," says Kornelson. "It warms our hearts to be able to do that, to give something back that we have received."

Kornelson says in 2014, Steinbach MCC will donate $750,000 to MCC Manitoba.