Sudbury Food Bank was in the mood for giving thanks Wednesday.
The organization held an event to show appreciation for three major spring and summer events that helped carry the food bank through the seasons.
"At the food bank, we've been trying hard to make the month of October a month of thanks to the whole community," said administrator Dan Xilon, from the organization's parking lot of the Notre Dame. "We realize that we'd be very remiss if we did not thank the individuals that got us through the summer."
The summer is often a tight time for the food bank, because people don't have many opportunities to give.
"Summer tends to be always tight, but this summer was extremely tight," Xilon said. "Thanks to these incredible groups ... the Sudbury Food Bank did not have to close its doors or reduce its services at one moment this entire past summer thanks to the money that these guys raised in June.
"That is an absolutely astonishing result compared to most Northern Ontario communities," Xilon said.
"I think it says volumes about our community to show that we are able to get through the entire summer without having to reduce service even less."
Sudbury Transit presented the organization's board chair Geoffrey Lougheed with a cheque for $8,636 from its food drive in the summer.
Gerry Portelance, of Sudbury Transit, said he was nervous going into the campaign this year because of the economy.
"My worries have now turned to humble gratitude," Portelance said. "Once again, the citizens of Greater Sudbury, even in tough times, came through with food, money and moral support."
The food bank also thanked the Sudbury Corvette Club for raising $25,492 at the Cruise for Food event at Science North.
"The Sudbury Food Bank provides a very valuable service in our community. Especially in these times, it's important that we support it," said Bob Huzij, president of the Sudbury Corvette Club.
Downtown Rotary Blues for Food was thanked for its $48,000 donation this year.
"We would like to thank the citizens of our city for giving and for participating in Downtown Rotary Blues for Food," said Maureen Luoma, executive director of Downtown Sudbury. "Without their participation for the last 19 years, we definitely never would have been able to make that kind of impact."
"These three very fine organization have done an outstanding job collecting $82,000 worth of food and funds," said Lougheed.
See the video of the event at http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2126833