Over 45 people showed up to help and take part in combining a field dedicated to the Canadian FoodGrains Bank on Sept. 14 just east of Ratcliff.

The Lake Alma/Souris Valley Growing Project got together with combines, trucks, doughnuts, coffee and a barbecue for the day of harvesting. The day began drizzly but soon the weather turned nice.

The project is one quarter, and is one of many that operates by donation for the Canadian Food Grains Bank of Canada, which distributes food to needy people of the world.

The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) will match gifts given through the Food Grains Bank at a four-to-one ratio. In this project the quarter yielded 45 bushels of No. 1 durum per acre.

The Food Grains Bank can feed 2,500 people a day with one tonne of grain, and 95 per cent of all grains shipped reaches its intended destination, which is considered very good as much of the work the group does is in war-torn areas.

Those who helped included pastor Robert and Carolyn Thompson and congregation of the Beaubier Pentecostal Church, partnered with the Glad Tidings church in Sudbury, Ont. and Dave Meier of CIDA. Grain companies who lent assistance included Weyburn Inland Terminal, Sask. Wheat Pool, Tribune Agricore United, along with volunteers who drove combines and trucks.

An appreciation banquet to everyone who was involved in this project will be held on Saturday, Oct. 29 at Oungre Memorial Regional Park, starting with punch and coffee at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and a presentation and report about the Food Grains Bank.

Photos of the harvesting event of Sept. 14 can be viewed by logging on to http://bpcsk.tripod.com and following the links. For more information or to attend the banquet, contact pastor Robert Thompson of the Beaubier Pentecostal Church.