The Taber Food Bank Society was granted property-tax exempt status by town council following the presentation of a delegation from the society at the Jan. 28 meeting.
Council voted unanimously to approve the Taber Food Bank’s application for exemption for its operations at 5512 48th Avenue, with respect to tax roll 4755060 for a three-year term commencing this year.
“We’re a non-profit society, everything that comes in is just from businesses and donors,” said Rod Yokoyama, president of the Taber Food Bank Society, prior to the vote. “We help out an average of 125 families every month, and that consists of about 171 adults and 128 children. This Christmas we did 221 hampers.”
The professed purpose of the organization is to collect food and distribute it to “society’s less fortunate”, with all monetary gains received by the organization being spent to maintain food bank operations.
Coun. Louie Tams, who put forward the motion to approve tax exempt status for the society, commented on the need for the food bank.
“As much as I’d like to see the food bank not exist, that we didn’t need to have it, the sad truth is it’s there, and it serves a purpose. For that reason, and that reason alone, that’s why I would vote in favour of the motion.”
Coun. Murray Rochelle thanked the delegation, which included Taber Food Bank co-ordinator Kathy Boersma, for their efforts and the efforts of volunteers in maintaining the organization.
“Just a thank-you to Rod (Yokoyama) and the volunteer staff that run that facility. I know all of the good work they do.”