The St Pierre Youth For Christ held their annual fall fundraising banquet on Friday evening and raised $23,000.

Director Wilma Hebert says prior to the banquet they had already received $5,000 from table donations but adds through the generosity of St Pierre and all surrounding communities, they raised the other $18,000 on Friday night alone. 

Hebert explains what type of programs the money all goes towards.

"Just open drop in, we're open all day every day actually because we're so close to the schools, we have a very good partnership with our schools so kids can come during their spares and they can come for lunch. We do a free lunch once a week for both of our high schools. We adventure club for young kids. We have a movie for the whole town, the whole community, for all ages every Friday night."

Hebert notes on a regular basis they have around 150 kids come through their facility every week and she adds every youth is welcome no matter what. 

"It's just great, it's just a place where every single youth no matter what their background is, no matter what they believe, no matter how good they are in sports or academics, they are all accepted and they belong. It's their place they belong there."

Hebert says they are so thankful for the support people have shown them over the years. "You know a youth centre, a drop-in centre can sometimes have some connotations that aren't that great" notes Hebert, "but you know what people have really seen what we're about so yeah I feel like we're very supported."

The banquet was held at the St Pierre Bible Fellowship Church and Hebert adds it was sold out once again with approximately 250 people in attendance.