Thanks to the community’s generosity, a local charity in Red Deer received some much-needed financial help.

Shalom Counselling Centre was presented with a check in the amount of $7,500, part of Parkland Mall’s Mosaics of Hope.

The seventh annual fundraiser had community members purchase coloured tiles for a donation of $5 which were used to create mosaics and were put on display in Parkland Mall.

For every tile sold, Parkland Mall matched the donation.

Bonnie Joyes, Community Relations Coordinator for the Centre, said the money will go a long way.

“It costs just over $600 a year to provide counselling for one family to come in for counselling services to subsidize. So that’s going to help 10-12 families come in this year and get the help they need.”

Benno Fath, Executive Director for Shalom Counselling Centre, said he’s extremely grateful for the help.

“At Shalom, we just feel absolutely honoured that we were chosen by Parkland Mall this year to be part of the Mosaics for Hope fundraiser.”

“It’s going to give us that little bit through the springtime to help us continue to be able to subsidize the services that we provide to people in need.”

The mall chooses three charities to help raise funds for every year. Ronald McDonalds House Charities and United Way were the other two chosen.