Today, January 28, 2021, Helen Walsh on behalf of The Rotary Club of Big Bear Lake, presented a check in the amount of $6,000 to Pastor Eric Hoerger of Believers Chapel Food Pantry. $5,000 of this amount was given to The Rotary Club of Big Bear Lake as a grant from Rotary District 5330. The funds were designated for the Rotary Club of Big Bear Lake "Million Meals" Food Pantry Program. Helen Walsh has been the Chair of this program since 2015. The reason the program was given the name "Million Meals" is that that is the amount of food they wanted to donate to our local Food Pantries. That goal has been REACHED! Today, the Rotary Club of Big Bear Lake passed the "Million Meals" goal. The total of money raised and donated to date is equal to 1,174,243 meals for those families in need in the Big Bear Valley. The Rotary Club of Big Bear Lake has accounts set up for the Food Pantries that want to participate with them at Feeding America in Riverside. As the club raises funds, they deposit the money into the accounts and Feeding America gives the Food Pantries 8-9 meals per dollar. The Food Pantries have to go to their warehouse in Riverside to pick up their food. They have access to fresh vegetables, fruit, and meat, as well as, canned and boxed goods. Pastor Eric opens his Food Pantry every Thursday and hands out food equal to approximately 1,000 meals. During these difficult times with the Covid-19, so many people are out of work, businesses are shut down and funds are difficult to raise for charities. Last year The Rotary Club of Big Bear Lake won the Community Champion Award from Feeding America. If you would like to donate to the program, please send your Tax Deductible Donation to: The Rotary Club of Big Bear Lake, P.O. Box 615, Big Bear Lake, Ca. 92315.