Enbridge and Precision Pipeline are donating more than $10,000 to the Niles Salvation Army’s “Feeding His Sheep” program, which provides food to grade-school students in the Niles-Buchanan area.

Jennifer Smith, of Enbridge Public Affairs, announced the donation during the Niles-Buchanan Rotary Club’s regular meeting Monday at Rivefront Cafe in Niles.

Smith said Precision Pipeline, Enbridge’s general contractor for the line 6B pipeline replacement project, raised $5,648 Aug. 30 for “Feeding His Sheep.”

Enbridge is donating an additional $5,000 to the cause.

“The donation is wonderful because we are in need of funding for the program,” said Maj. William Walters, of Niles Salvation Army.

“Feeding His Sheep” served around 215 kids grades kindergarten through fifth last year at Brandywine, Niles and Buchanan Community Schools. Each Friday, participating students receive a backpack full of enough food to last through the weekend. Students then bring the backpack back to school on Monday and the process repeats until the end of the school year. This year’s program is slated to start Sept. 20.

Not including the Precision/Enbridge donation, Walters said the Niles Salvation Army currently has received donations totaling just under $5,000 for “Feeding His Sheep.”

Last year, more than $56,000 was spent on the program. Walters said the funding comes at various times throughout the school year. It is solely funded through donations.

“This funding will be a great help to get us going, but we are still at a point where we are in need of funding,” he said.

Smith said Precision Pipeline put out a donation box during their regular department meetings Aug. 30. Around $1,900 was donated during the inspector meeting.

For more information, or to donate to “Feeding His Sheep,” contact the Niles Salvation Army at (269) 684-2660.

Enbridge is currently in Niles for the second phase of the line 6B replacement project. The project includes replacing approximately 210 miles of existing oil pipeline in Indiana and Michigan.

Smith said the project is slated to wrap up by the end of the year.