Lake Community Bank and STMA Hockey Team up for Gift

Those cardboard tubs of food at the entrance of thecertainly did the trick.

Through the efforts of the Blue Line Club, the St. Michael-Albertville Youth Hockey Association and the work of businesses like , more than $6,000 was raised at the front entrance of the arena.

The donation includes money for the local Blue Line and Youth Hockey Assocation, as well as more than $1,500 to the Hanover Food Shelf and CAER in Elk River.

“It’s been a great effort,” said Tim Gamrath, head of the Blue Liners. “People really got into it, to the point where these big tubs were kind of getting in the way for the staff here. That’s a good problem.”

For each food item donated, Jay Eull of Lake Community Bank and Rob Gibbs and Rene Engh of the Professional Service Bureau in Elk River, matched with a $1 donation from each business.

In the end, $3,000 will go to the Blue Line Club in rewards for their efforts.

“I think it’s a big time with the holidays here [and now gone], for people who maybe don’t have a lot,” Gamrath said. “They need all the help they can get right now.”