Lynden Tribune readers donated more than $10,000 to the city’s food bank and a local women’s shelter as part of the newspaper’s 2011 Readers Care Fund.

“I want to thank our readers, as well as area businesses and the local service clubs, for their outstanding support this year,” Michael Lewis, Lynden Tribune owner and publisher, said in a Feb. 9 press release. “We had 111 donations to our 2011 Readers Care Fund effort, and our community is better off because of your generosity.”

A check for $10,358.35 was presented to Jim Grennell, the director of Project Hope, which operates the food bank. The organization also oversees New Way Ministries, which runs the shelter.

“Project Hope and the Lynden Food Bank are seeing a record number of requests for assistance and we are happy to play a small part in helping meet those needs,” Lewis said. “New Way Ministries provides a wonderful service for homeless women with children helping them transition back into the community and we are very proud to help their wonderful efforts.”

The Tribune’s annual charity fund is in its sixth year of operation. The fund’s 111 participants is up from 75 donors in 2010, according to the release.