The tables inside the Mahle House Restaurant may be empty but the restaurant is very busy helping others. (Mahle House/Facebook)

By Spencer Sterritt

MATCHING FUNDS

Generous family matching donations to Nanaimo food bank after helping beloved Cedar restaurant

May 8, 2020 | 7:05 AM

NANAIMO — The continued generosity of a Nanaimo-based family will help thousands keep full during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The family, which asked to remain anonymous, is matching donations to the Nanaimo Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank up to $25,000.

All the donations go through the website for the Mahle House Restaurant in Cedar.

Mahle House co-owner Stephen Wilson told NanaimoNewsNOW the fundraising campaign for the food bank stemmed from of a previous act of good will by the family.

“They subsidized all of our take-out to the tune of 50 per cent for the whole month of April,” Wilson said.

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Given how busy April was for the restaurant, even during the pandemic, the family’s efforts to help went a long way.

As April finished, Wilson turned to the family and asked if there was anything they could do to repay the favour.

The family suggested the fundraising campaign for the food bank.

“I just wanted to publicly acknowledge them, put their name on our website or something,” Wilson said with a laugh.

The campaign runs through the end of May.

Stephen said it was “mind-boggling” the family would offer their help to such an extent.

If a full $50,000 is raised for the food bank, it will be enough to pay for an entire month worth of expenses and bills.

Loaves and Fishes executive director Peter Sinclair said the funding would help them in a critical way.

“We need these funds to make sure everyone has food to eat in our community, not just now but in the weeks and months ahead. We’re anticipating some pretty difficult times.”

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit