In what has become a pre-Christmas tradition, Steinbach MCC Friday handed out cheques to some local charities.

Chair Gordon Kornelson says they donate a lot of money to MCC Manitoba, but also want to give back locally. This year, $45,000 was split between ten charities. Those charities are Heartland Quilters, ROC Eastman, HavenGroup, Eastman Special Olympics, Youth For Christ, Steinbach Family Resource Centre, Eden Foundation, South East Helping Hands, Soup's On 

(Rueben Singh)   and Today House.

Prior to accepting the cheque on behalf of YFC, Rueben Singh shared a story from earlier this month when they held their Christmas party for the youth.

"Part way through the night I went outside and there was a young man crying in minus thirty-five degree weather, because of the circumstances he was going through," recalls Singh. "He didn't want to talk about it but we gave him an opportunity and a safe place to be that night."

Singh says thanks to the partnership of Steinbach MCC, Youth For Christ can continue to walk with young people.

Meanwhile, Joy Neufeld of Soup's On shared a conversation with a gentleman who came to eat one evening.

(Joy Neufeld)"He said, 'I need to talk to you,'" says Neufeld, recalling there were tears rolling down his face.

"He said, 'just in case you've forgotten why you are here, I want to tell you," she says. "He said, 'I have no food budget. If it weren't for the food bank and community resources and Soup's On I would not eat.'"

Neufeld says the volunteers at Soup's On are instruments and without their support, that charity would not exist. But adds it is also because of support from groups like MCC.

Kornelson says it is sad to see that there is such a need in Steinbach, but notes it is great to know there are local charities willing to help.

The cheque amounts were not equal amounts.