Photo: Contributed
More seniors have been unable to pay for rent, food and medications this year, so Seniors Outreach & Resource Centre is holding a holiday 50/50 raffle to help as many as it can.
The Holiday Wishes 50/50 Raffle is now live, and tickets will be available for purchase online or in person until Dec. 17.
Seniors Outreach is trying to meet the needs of all the seniors asking for help and anticipates a growth in demand over the winter months. Executive director Ian Gerbrandt said some of the situations he sees and hears are heartbreaking.
“We met one elderly woman who was living in her car after she was evicted from her rental suite when the owner sold the property,” Gerbrandt said. “She spent a career helping others as care aide, but the wages from her work in the caring economy were modest. She was struggling to access social housing due to waitlists and private market rentals due to costs.
“Our team helped her find a way forward by navigating short-term shelters, medical services, nutritional supports, social services and eventually a permanent rental home. For someone who spent a lifetime caring for others, she deserved a system of social care to help her when needed.”
Seniors Outreach’s staff and volunteers have supported nearly 2,000 seniors in the Central Okanagan this year. That included wellness calls, social visits, free tax returns and delivering food hampers.
Now you can help and also earn the chance to win some money just before Christmas. You can purchase Holiday Wishes 50/50 Raffle tickets here or in person at 115-2065 Benvoulin Court between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The draw will take place on Monday, Dec. 19, at 1 p.m.
All Get Involved Stories
