After a great year, Troy Mine Inc., employees chose to give back to those in need this holiday season by donating a portion of their bonus checks to the local food pantries.

“The guys feel like they’ve been given so much, so they wanted to give back,” John Shanahan said, President and CEO of Revett Minerals Inc.

Troy Mine employee, Randall Mick, put forth a challenge to the other workers to donate $50 of their year-end bonuses to the local food banks. When the chairmen and directors recognized the efforts of the employees, they agreed to match the donations. Following their lead, the corporate office decided to match the employee donations, as well.

“This was not a corporate initiative, this initiative came from the employees,” Shanahan said.

The Troy mine employs approximately 195 workers. The employees donated more than $4,000 to divide evenly between the Libby, Troy and Noxon food banks.

“By the end of the challenge there will be more than $15,000 for the food banks,” Shanahan said last week.

“It is such a wonderful gesture, and a great thing these guys are doing,” he said.