Employees at Friesens Corporation in Altona, Manitoba, have directed a $9,808 donation to the Rhineland & Area Food Bank through their annual giving program. The contribution, announced in April 2026, continues a tradition of local support from the employee-owned company.
The funds were presented by marketing manager Pamela Hiebert to long-time board member Ang Stoesz. The donation is intended to support the food bank’s daily operations, the purchase of food, and the construction of a new loading dock. This facility upgrade is designed to improve safety and streamline the delivery process for volunteers.
The Rhineland & Area Food Bank, which is entirely volunteer-run and locally funded, provides support to approximately 70 households each week. The organization recently returned to the education wing of the Altona United Church, the same site where it was first established in 1997. Stoesz has been a central figure in the organization since its inception.
Friesens Corporation has operated in Altona for over a century and functions as an employee-owned business. With approximately 600 employees, the company represents about 14 per cent of the local population. Through its giving program, staff members choose which local organizations receive financial support, reflecting the company’s emphasis on community involvement.
