The Watrous and District Food Bank held their first ever Walk-a-Thon on Wednesday night.

The "Hoofin' it for Hunger" Walk-a-Thon started and ended at the Watrous Hospital, and with the help of local businesses, was able to raise donations.

Darren Holland is the chair of the Watrous and District Food Bank.

He talks about why the food bank held their walk.

"This is hunger awareness week across Canada. In connection with Canadian food banks, we're a local Saskatchewan food bank that also shares in that time of year, just a reminder of the hunger needs and also the opporitunites for people to support and meet some of the hunger needs in our community."

Holland says a need for more donations in food banks across the Province is noticable, including in Watrous.

"I think across Saskatchwan food banks, there's been an increase lately. Our numbers from last year have gone up about 20%, so that's an increase. We've also had a need in some of our finances and meeting some of the expenses need. So we have seen an increase in the need, that's why we also need some more in terms of donations, so ic omes at a really good time for us when the need is up, to hit that need now."

Holland describes how the idea for "Hoofin' it for Hunger" all began.

"We actually had a neat connection with our town, and our Manitou Lodge, where there are residents and a Senior Centre, said 'why don't we do a walk with them and also with the community members and local business participants?' And so we had a tremendous turn out. Looks like 50 some people also with about 25 residents at the Lodge, and so that's what made it special, it's just a community event. A lot of people connecting with people from our Lodge, which makes the life of our community."

The food bank raised over $7,000 in cash donations, along with non-perishable food donations and a $2,000 grant from Watrous and Imperial RBC.

You can hear more from Watrous and District Food Bank Chair Darren Holand here: