Record breaking $6000 raised at Taste Of Summer Charity BBQ

An anonymous donor matching funds and more smokies generated the most money ever raised at the Taste Of Summer Charity BBQ on Main Street Steinbach Wednesday.

After selling out each of the first three weeks, the sponsors of the Charity BBQ stepped up to pay for one hundred more lunches.

Steinbach Youth For Christ (YFC) also received word from an anonymous matching sponsor.

Rueben Singh is the Executive Director for YFC in Steinbach. “This weekend I got contacted saying ‘hey I want to match up to $3000 raised at this thing’. That would be incredible.”

In between short bursts of rain, the community came, ate and donated $3030.50. With the matching sponsor, the total being presented to YFC was $6030.50.

Singh says the donated funds will be used for a good cause.

“Money is going to go towards our impact funds to continue to impact the youth that we work with. For our backstage programs, camping trips, all those types of things that allow our youth to have great experiences and be in safe places and do fun things.”

Ashley Reimer is the Backstage Program Director at YFC and describes some of the specific ways they are impacting youth in the city.

“Well, this summer specifically, we're going to be taking a group of youth camping out in Spruce Woods. We do a lot of lunches, paying for meals all the time, and we like to go hiking or paintballing. Anything that we can do to build some relationship, build connection and lead to deeper conversations.”

It’s not just the charities impacted by the Main Street gathering each week.

Kathy Stoyka from CG Open Road Outlet has been at the grill each week cooking the 450 smokies. Now with the extra 100 generously contributed by all the sponsors, she continues to be impressed by the community.

"I love the people that are volunteering. We've got to get to know people in the community. Got to know other businesses and of course the people of Steinbach that are coming out to support these charities. It's just incredible the support and amazing to see everybody coming out and people helping people.”