The High River United Way is investing over $46,000 in seven local projects this year.

Town council put its stamp of approval on the group's recommendations Monday, March 14.

Mayor Craig Snodgrass says it's been a great collaboration over the years.

"Shelly Koot and her team do a great job every year of sorting through everything, making sure the money gets to the right organizations to do the right things for our community, so fantastic job by all of them," he says.

The Community Grants were handed out as follows:

$10,000 to High River Food for Thought Ltd.,
$10,000 to No Student Goes Hungry Program,
$  8,000 to the BGC Foothills Club (formally: Boys and Girls Club of the Foothills),
$  7,000 to Wild Rose Community Connections,
$  6,000 to Inclusion Foothills,
$  3,000 to Foothills Community Immigrant Services,
$  2,000 to the Branches Program with Rowan House.

The mayor says the fact the two highest amounts go to groups providing meals for children says something about the times we're in.

"It's shocking to me when I talk to the ladies that are involved in those organizations, most of us don't see it but it does exist in our community where kids are going to school with no lunch so these programs are absolutely needed and we're very lucky to have individuals in our community that are willing to step up and make this happen and take care of our kids," Snodgrass said.

The Town and United Way Partnership Program have a multi-year agreement in place.