Charity and Donations

A GoFundMe page has been launched for a Vernon man whose BX orchard property home off Pleasant Valley Road near Stickle Road was totally destroyed in a fire Saturday, April 17. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

Fundraising campaign launched for Okanagan man who lost home to fire

A GoFundMe page has been started by family; Vernon man taken to hospital with injuries from fire

 

Okanagan-based All Are Family Outreach Society, which provides support to those struggling from Armstrong to Kelowna, is in need of a new headquarters after leaving a Winfield church in June 2020. (All Are Family Outreach photo)

Okanagan outreach society in ‘desperate’ need after storage unit break-in

All Are Family Outreach had $4,000 in tools stolen from its donation shipping container

 

The Lumby Community Thrift Store will need to move its donation storage container from its parking lot due to adhere to local bylaws and is turning to the public to find a solution. The container will need to be moved by the end of April 2021. (Amanda Lishman photo)

‘Betty’ the storage container evicted from Lumby thrift store lot

Members at thrift store welcoming ideas for alternatives to store donations

 

The Friesen family has donated $150,000 to Okanagan College in Kelowna. (Submitted)

Okanagan family donates $150k to support local college students

“It’s a privilege to give back to the community that’s given so much to us,” said Dianne Friesen.

The Friesen family has donated $150,000 to Okanagan College in Kelowna. (Submitted)
Xena Szkotak passed through Revelstoke on March 19. She spent the next day resting, but left the day after. “Walking is addicting,” she said. (Liam Harrap - Revelstoke Review)

Woman walking 8,000 km across Canada passes through Revelstoke

Xena Szkotak is hiking Highway 1 to raise awareness for MMIW

Xena Szkotak passed through Revelstoke on March 19. She spent the next day resting, but left the day after. “Walking is addicting,” she said. (Liam Harrap - Revelstoke Review)
Vernon’s Kevin Morin and Michelle Stewart, with their twin boys Acadion and Chiron. A GoFundMe campaign has been started for the family as they wait in Vancouver for a medical diagnosis on Chiron. (GoFundMe photo)

GoFundMe launched for Vernon family

Michelle Stewart and Kevin Morin await diagnosis on one of their twin boys

Vernon’s Kevin Morin and Michelle Stewart, with their twin boys Acadion and Chiron. A GoFundMe campaign has been started for the family as they wait in Vancouver for a medical diagnosis on Chiron. (GoFundMe photo)
Mohammad Shafi of Parksville has retired after 70 years in the shoe business. (Facebook photo)

Retiring B.C. shoe store owner donates his entire inventory to Salvation Army

Shafi, 91, retires after more than 70 years in the business

Mohammad Shafi of Parksville has retired after 70 years in the shoe business. (Facebook photo)
Longtime Vernon friends Zach Anderson, left, and Justin Mitchell discussed depression on social media. Anderson is in Perth, Australia, where he is partaking in a running event to raise money and awareness of depression in memory of longtime Morning Star editor Glenn Mitchell, Justin’s father. (Photo contributed)

Man laces up for mental health challenge in honour of former Vernon editor

Zach Anderson, with blessing of Mitchell’s family, raising awareness of depression Down Under

Longtime Vernon friends Zach Anderson, left, and Justin Mitchell discussed depression on social media. Anderson is in Perth, Australia, where he is partaking in a running event to raise money and awareness of depression in memory of longtime Morning Star editor Glenn Mitchell, Justin’s father. (Photo contributed)
SilverStar Mountain Resort near Vernon has teamed up with the Community Foundation of North Okanagan to help feed local families who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. (SilverStar photo)

Vernon resort fills gap for residents impacted by COVID-19

SilverStar Mountain Resort and Community Foundation North Okanagan create program to feed families

SilverStar Mountain Resort near Vernon has teamed up with the Community Foundation of North Okanagan to help feed local families who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. (SilverStar photo)
Major Paul Trickett of the Salvation Army with Laurie Kidd, Lorri Kidd, Joan Chernesky of the Penticton Elks Lodge. (Contributed)

Penticton Elks Lodge makes $6,000 donation to Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is in need of donations now more than ever amid the pandemic

Major Paul Trickett of the Salvation Army with Laurie Kidd, Lorri Kidd, Joan Chernesky of the Penticton Elks Lodge. (Contributed)
McBain Insurance in Summerland gave a donation of $816 to Angus Place. The money will go towards a new floor in the bathing room in the seniors care facility. From left are Chris Emmons of McBain Insurance, Stacey Schieman of McBain Insurance and Charmaine Kramer of Parkdale Place Housing Society. (Contributed)

Donation to help with bathing room work at Summerland seniors facility

Earlier contribution will be used to replace aging tub at Angus Place

McBain Insurance in Summerland gave a donation of $816 to Angus Place. The money will go towards a new floor in the bathing room in the seniors care facility. From left are Chris Emmons of McBain Insurance, Stacey Schieman of McBain Insurance and Charmaine Kramer of Parkdale Place Housing Society. (Contributed)
Daryle Mcallister, Christie Fiebelkorn, and Tracy Comber were the only volunteers inside Penticton’s Soupateria serving clients Jan. 15, 2021. Approximately 68 people per day relied on Penticton’s Soupateria for food in 2020. (Jesse Day - Western News)(Jesse Day - Western News)

Penticton’s Soupateria facing uncertainty due to dwindling grant money, COVID restrictions

The Soupateria served over 25,000 meals in 2020

Daryle Mcallister, Christie Fiebelkorn, and Tracy Comber were the only volunteers inside Penticton’s Soupateria serving clients Jan. 15, 2021. Approximately 68 people per day relied on Penticton’s Soupateria for food in 2020. (Jesse Day - Western News)(Jesse Day - Western News)
The Vernon-based All Are Family Outreach Society, which provides support to those struggling from Armstrong to Kelowna, is in need of a new headquarters after leaving a Winfield church in June 2020. (All Are Family Outreach photo)

Okanagan outreach society in need of new home

Vernon-based All Are Family Outreach has been without a home base since June

The Vernon-based All Are Family Outreach Society, which provides support to those struggling from Armstrong to Kelowna, is in need of a new headquarters after leaving a Winfield church in June 2020. (All Are Family Outreach photo)
Photo from video posted to Facebook.

Woman caught on camera allegedly stealing from Okanagan charity

The woman is alleged to have stolen from the donation bin before

Photo from video posted to Facebook.
A donation from the Summerland Health Care Auxiliary will go towards the purchase of a new tub at the Angus Place seniors residence. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)

Summerland thrift store donation pays for new tub at care facility

Unexpected $10,000 donation will allow for new tub at Angus Place facility

A donation from the Summerland Health Care Auxiliary will go towards the purchase of a new tub at the Angus Place seniors residence. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)
(Contributed)

Penticton Regional Hospital Auxiliary donates $78k to school breakfast programs

The Penticton Breakfast Club runs programs at Queens Park, Westbench and Columbia Elementary schools

(Contributed)
Customers are lined up at Summerland Health Care Auxiliary Thrift Store in this 2019 file photo. Even today, with COVID-19 restrictions in place, the store continues to see around 150 customers a day. (Summerland Review file photo)

Summerland thrift store to close until Jan. 2, 2021

Concerns about increase in COVID-19 cases led to decision to close doors

Customers are lined up at Summerland Health Care Auxiliary Thrift Store in this 2019 file photo. Even today, with COVID-19 restrictions in place, the store continues to see around 150 customers a day. (Summerland Review file photo)
Students at Lavington Elementary crammed a car full of non-perishables for those in the community facing food insecurity. Spearheaded by teacher January Peebles (left), the donations were picked up by Give LUCK founder Myrika Godard, who works to connect donors with donees in the North Okanagan. (Give LUCK photo)

Gifts that make a difference in the North Okanagan

List of local charity wish lists

Students at Lavington Elementary crammed a car full of non-perishables for those in the community facing food insecurity. Spearheaded by teacher January Peebles (left), the donations were picked up by Give LUCK founder Myrika Godard, who works to connect donors with donees in the North Okanagan. (Give LUCK photo)
Over 30 per cent of Canadian youth under the age of 18 cannot afford to play organized sport. (Wikimedia Commons)

Penticton families need help getting kids into the game

Ninth annual KidSport Give the Gift of Sport fundraising campaign could be the most crucial one yet

Over 30 per cent of Canadian youth under the age of 18 cannot afford to play organized sport. (Wikimedia Commons)
The Vernon Public Art Gallery is looking to the community to support its programming, which VantageOne Credit Union is matching for Giving Tuesday. (VPAG image)

Vernon art gallery gets a boost for Giving Tuesday

VantageOne Credit Union matching donations

The Vernon Public Art Gallery is looking to the community to support its programming, which VantageOne Credit Union is matching for Giving Tuesday. (VPAG image)