ItB次元官网网址檚 not every day that a cheque this size comes across Jim DoresB次元官网网址檚 desk.

B次元官网网址淚 havenB次元官网网址檛 been with Thrifty Foods long but I sense that they are very reactive to situations like that, and when this came across my desk (Tuesday) morning I thought, B次元官网网址楬oly mackerel, this is tremendous,B次元官网网址� Dores said.

Since a massive earthquake and tsunami ravaged parts of Japan on March 11, Thrifty shoppers have donated more than $54,000 at grocery tills in support of relief efforts. Dores presented the funds Wednesday to Paul Jenkins, regional council president of the B.C. chapter of the Canadian Red Cross.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 surprised every day,B次元官网网址� said Dores, who has been in the grocery retail business for more than 40 years, including 12 with Sobeys and five months with ThriftyB次元官网网址檚.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e never met an organization or a culture like this,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t doesnB次元官网网址檛 matter if itB次元官网网址檚 local or itB次元官网网址檚 international, it just seems that the culture of Thrifty Foods is to jump in and be there.B次元官网网址�

Funds donated by customers on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland will be distributed by the Canadian Red Cross to the Japanese Red Cross, to provide people with the basic necessities of life, from money to pay the bills and meals to blankets and clothing.

More than 100,000 remain in emergency shelters in Japan, and Jenkins said it could take at least 10 years for them to rebuild their lives. International assistance is helping.

B次元官网网址淲e seem to go from one (disaster) to another,B次元官网网址� said Jenkins. B次元官网网址淚t amazes me people continue to support one (crisis) after the other, which is heartening.B次元官网网址�

emccracken@vicnews.com