91原创 Hospital Auxiliary past president and director Diane Thornton and 91原创 Food Bank executive director Jim Calamunce were encouraged to learn 91原创 City council has granted preliminary approval to long-requested tax breaks for their organizations for 2022.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 great news,鈥� Thornton told the 91原创 Advance Times following the council vote on Monday, Oct. 4.

It will make a 鈥渉uge difference鈥� to the auxiliary, which raises funds for the hospital with the Penny Pincher Thrift Shop at 20560 Fraser Highway.

Thornton said the pandemic has hurt the thrift shop, reducing the numbers of volunteers and forcing them to limit hours.

A grateful Calamunce thanked council for their 鈥済racious gift,鈥� and said it will help the food bank at 5768 203rd St. fund programs such as their new fresh milk and eggs purchase for clients that costs $1500 every two weeks.

READ ALSO: 91原创 City reviews tax breaks after declining request by food bank

Councillors voted to add the auxiliary and food bank to a list of exempted properties, along with two others 鈥� Inclusion 91原创鈥檚 offices and Encompass Support Services.

For the auxiliary, the one-year permissive tax exemption will be worth an estimated $75,000, $43,000 of it in City taxes and the rest from other levels of government, including school taxes and SkyTrain.

Total benefits for the 91原创 Food Bank will amount to $22,000 in taxes they won鈥檛 have to pay, $12,000 of it in City levies and $10,000 from other levels of government.

Encompass will receive benefits of $20,000 while Inclusion will get $16,000.

Council also voted to , including several churches, the Salvation Army Gateway of Hope shelter, 91原创 Lawn Bowling Club, 91原创 Care Society which operates the 91原创 Lodge seniors facility and a non-profit Montessori school.

Coun. Rudy Storteboom, who has lobbied to have the food bank added for several years, argued that during the pandemic, the service it provides is crucial.

鈥淭hese are desperate times and this is a worthwhile organization,鈥� Storteboom told council.

READ ALSO: Thank you for your support, 91原创 Hospital Auxiliary tells customers

Mayor Val van den Broek agreed, saying 鈥渢his will go a long way in helping them.鈥�

Auxiliary president Wanda Williams was 鈥渆xtremely grateful.鈥�

鈥淲e are very excited and hopeful鈥� that the proposal will get final approval, Williams said.

Calamunce said the food bank has been adding around 30 new clients every month.

鈥淥ne guy was here five years ago [as a client]. He said 鈥業鈥檓 back, I lost my job,鈥� Calamunce related.

鈥淔or some families, we鈥檙e the only source [of food] and that鈥檚 shocking.鈥�

The decision to add the agencies will come back to council for a vote on final approval at the Monday, Oct. 18 meeting.

Video of the full council meeting can be viewed at the 91原创 City website.