A Canadian non-profit aimed at helping end world hunger is getting a big cheque from a Chatham-Kent farm.
John and David Lugtigheid presented the Canadian Foodgrains Bank with $39,000 on Tuesday at the Evangel Community Church.
For around 20 years, the father-son duo has been growing and selling crops for the organization on land owned by the church.
John Lugtigheid told CK News Today they've never collected a cent off of any of the work.
"Over the years, we've never turned a bill in and we still pay our help for doing the work," he said.
John also gave a shoutout to CK agri-businesses who've donated fertilizer and other chemicals to help offset some of the farm's expenses.
"The local agri-businesses have been very good in supporting [the farm]," he added.
The nearly $40,000 was raised through the harvest of soybeans. John explained he's expecting to see between $4,000 and $5,000 more once they get the farm's premium payment.
The Canadian Foodgrains Bank will also be receiving a cheque from the farm in the near future as winter wheat was planted in the fall and will soon be ready to be sold.
All the funds will help the organization continue offering help to places like the Sudan, Lebanon, and Uganda.
Henry Reinders, an Ontario regional representative for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, explained they used to provide the crops harvested by the farmers but decided to sell them instead.
"We're not spending money on shipping costs. We're providing the people who are receiving the food a product they're familiar with because we're buying it locally, and we're also helping local farmers who have something to sell by providing a market for them," Reinders added.
The change has also allowed the organization to support different kinds of projects like improving farming practices in different countries.
Reinders and Paul Hagerman, the Canadian Foodgrains Bank's director of public policy, were in Chatham on Tuesday to speak with local farmers who support the non-profit.
While he didn't have specific numbers, Reinders explained there are several projects happening in and around Chatham-Kent.