Photo: Contributed

Big White Ski Resort is busy gearing up for its 61st season this winter, but first it is giving back to the community to help feed families on Thanksgiving.

The resort has donated $1,000 to Central Okanagan Food Bank, which will turn into $3,000 worth of Thanksgiving turkeys for those who who are experiencing food insecurity. Thanks to partnerships with food retailers, every $1 donated to the food bank turns into $3 worth of food.

“We’re thrilled that our donation will be able to help so many families this Thanksgiving,” Big White senior vice-president Michael J. Ballingall said in a press release. “We believe in the strength of community and the power of giving back. The Central Okanagan Food Bank does tremendous work to support those in need, and we are honoured to contribute to their efforts.

“We encourage everyone in the community to do what they can to support this important cause.”

Early-bird season passes at Big White are available until Oct. 20 on its website here, while donations of food, funds and time are always accepted at Central Okanagan Food Bank. You can learn more here.

Photo: Contributed

When all is said and done, Saturday’s East Meets West Children’s Foundation charity fundraiser will have topped slightly more than $200,000.

An astounding $150,000 was raised in a 15-minute span, including a $20,000 donation from Stober Foundation.

The charity fundraiser at Parkinson Rec Centre on Saturday night attracted a sold-out crowd of more than 350 people from all walks of life.

The children’s foundation Diwali dinner is the organization’s major fundraiser each year. And since the charitable foundation’s board is made up entirely of volunteers, once the bills are paid every penny raised goes directly to the children in need across the Okanagan and around the globe.

Among the many initiatives, the charity is contributing $10,000 toward Parade With a Purpose.

“I am grateful for East Meets West’s generous donation,” Parade With a Purpose organizer Pam Turgeon said. “This is an amazing charity that works at the grassroots level, and it makes a big difference to the lives of so many people. It just shows that together we can move mountains.”

Another $15,000 is being given for trauma counselling in support of “Not In My City,” a foundation started by Canadian country music star Paul Brandt to combat the exploitation of children through sex trafficking. Brandt was in attendance at the dinner.

Dozens of other local and worldwide charities will also benefit from Saturday’s donations.

“This is the charity’s 16th year,” founder Mohini Singh said. “We are a team of volunteers, and we came together to help people here and abroad. I never imagined we would have such an impact.”

Photo: Big White Ski Resort

One Okanagan organization turning 60 this year is helping out another that has been around for a decade longer.

Big White Ski Resort, which is celebrating its diamond anniversary, has donated $5,000 to Central Okanagan Search and Rescue, which is turning 70 years old in 2024.

“These volunteers do such fantastic work for Big White and our surrounding communities,” Big White chief operating officer Darcy Arnold said. “Whether it’s a rescue mission beyond the resort boundary ropes or deep in the backcountry, COSAR has always been there, responding swiftly and professionally.

“Their dedication ensures the safety of our guests and staff year-round. As unpaid professionals, they rely on government funding and community support to continue delivering these invaluable services, and we’re proud to support them in any way we can.”

The money will support the equipment, training and resources required by COSAR, which consists of 50 highly trained volunteers who respond to more than 100 incidents annually throughout the Central Okanagan.

COSAR is B.C.’s oldest search and rescue organization.

Photo: Castanet

The Kamloops Food Bank’s 50/50 jackpot is in its last week as it sets its sights on raising funds for community programs.

Kamloops Food Bank community engagement and communications co-ordinator Kennedy Epp said the raffle’s jackpot has reached over $35,000.

“Whatever we do make from the jackpot, towards our programs that support children,” Epp said. “So that’s our Baby Bank, our Starfish program, school snacks, stuff like that.”

While the annual raffle has previously run for three months, Epp said this year’s raffle has run for twice as long.

“Wanted to switch it up a little bit. I mean, we normally start this raffle in February, and this year we actually started in April,” she said. “We thought why not run it through the summer and right through to October and have the draw kind of right before Thanksgiving and and just test it out?”

The final day to purchase tickets for the raffle will be Thursday, Oct. 10, before midnight. The draw will be held Oct. 11 at 9 a.m., when the winner will take half the jackpot.

“We obviously always are happy to accept regular donations, but the 50/50 raffle is a great way to kind of still support us, but then potentially take home half the jackpot,” Epp said.

More information on the 50/50 raffle is available online.

Photo: The Salvation Army

Vernon’s Kal Tire has made a $10,000 donation to The Salvation Army for its 30 Days of Giving campaign.

The campaign was launched to raise $650,000 to move the food bank from its current 33rd Avenue location to the much larger 24th Street location.

“Kal Tire is committed to making continuous improvements across all aspects of our company while acknowledging our responsibility to our customers, each other, our communities, and the environment,” Kal Tire’s Jamie Shillingford said.

“We are proud to contribute to the 30 Days of Giving campaign, helping to rebuild a functional and dignified food bank experience for those in need.”

The Vernon food bank helps between 50 and 75 families each day. There have been more than 850 new users this year, and one in 23 people in Vernon have relied on the food bank in 2024.

With the increase in use and limited space, the food bank decided to move its operations to a larger building with a larger storage area.

“We just needed to make the decision to make it far more efficient and more effective,” The Salvation Army’s Ron Cartmell said.

The food bank has also changed the way it delivers its services. Instead of people being given a box of food with set items, they can now choose the produce, dairy and more that they want to eat.

“That gives more dignity to the process, as opposed to us determining for them the food they are going to be given,” Cartmell said.

The campaign runs until the end of September.

Donations can be made year-round on its website.

Photo: JCI Penticton

A young professionals organization in Penticton has brought back an initiative that supports women in the South Okanagan.

JCI Penticton is once again conducting the Community Spoons program, which is dedicated to providing nutritious soups to families in need.

JCI Penticton volunteers will gather on the second Tuesday of each month and prepare a variety of soups using locally sourced ingredients. The soups will be distributed through South Okanagan Women in Need Society.

 “Community Spoons embodies our commitment to making a meaningful difference in the lives of those who need it most,” Community Spoons chair Danny Reigh said in a press release.

“By partnering with SOWINS, we aim to provide not only nutritious food but also a sense of community care and support.”

JCI Penticton will next meet on Tuesday, Oct. 8, at BC Fraternal Order of Eagles’s Penticton location on Main Street.

More information about Community Spoons can be found on its website here.

Photo: Facebook

You could win big while supporting animals at the same time.

Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team has launched its annual fundraising raffle, offering three stunning gift packages worth a total of more than $14,000.

ALERT is hoping to raise $20,000 to finance its mission to support animals during disasters. The organization is dedicated to the actual rescue and shelter of domestic animals and livestock in a disaster, which includes housefires, apartment fires, vehicle accidents, wildfires, floods and any other emergency where animals are involved.

Some of the prizes in this year’s raffle include a wine tour on horseback, a helicopter ride for nine, and rounds of golf at prestigious courses such as Predator Ridge and Canyon Desert.

“ALERT relies entirely on community donations to carry out our mission of rescuing and sheltering animals during disasters, such as our response to the McDougall Creek fire in 2023,” ALERT president Daryl Meyers said in a press release. “All proceeds from this fundraiser will directly benefit our efforts to secure essential resources, establish temporary animal relief shelters, conduct training exercises and support foster families.”

Tickets for the raffle can be purchased online here.

The winning tickets will be drawn on Sept. 28.

The Critteraid Charity Shoppe in Summerland is in need of someone who loves organization and style to help the store keep looking like a quality boutique.

A large part of the rescue’s annual income is generated through the thrift store, which sees tons of unique products dropped off.

The organization works hard to look after its furry friends, being completely run by volunteers and donations. The 10-acre property hosts a multitude of animals that the charity has saved, including dozens of cats, pigs, dogs, ducks, cows, llamas and goats.

Critteraid president Lori Huot-Stewart said styling the displays takes people that have creative interior design talent.

“If you do need someone by chance to help you birth a goat, well that I am in for, so I thought it would be best if I asked for somebody that was a little bit more qualified than me, that maybe wants to volunteer a few hours and have a really good time being creative,” she said with a laugh.

Display work is done in the hours after the store is closed, before noon or after 4 p.m.

“The creative sides are endless, and the fun is we use what has been donated, which means you have no idea what week brings what items,” Huot-Stewart added.

“This time of year brings the most changes, as we have Halloween, Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day, and then, of course, our Christmas Extravaganza all coming up.”

If you are interested in display design once a week for a few hours, email [email protected].

Photo: Contributed

Creative Roots Landscaping is looking for another Yard Angel project this October.

The company has been donating to charities and providing in-kind work to the tune of $175,000 since 2010 and hopes to continue that this fall with its Give Back campaign.

This annual campaign is three-fold, starting with a donation minimum of $2,000 to local charities, providing $1,000 for the Creative Roots Landscaping Growing Opportunities Bursary through the Central Okanagan Bursary and Scholarship Society for a local graduating student, as well as providing an expert landscaping service to a Kelowna resident in need.

According to Creative Roots Landscaping, the Yard Angel project aims to lighten the gardening load for one Kelowna resident suffering from a debilitating illness or injury who are unable to care for their yards.

They say it’s an inspiring way for the team to contribute to the community by doing what they do best, which is landscaping.

“It’s hard to describe how good it feels to give without expecting anything in return,” said Colette, a member of Creative Roots Landscaping.

“There’s a quiet, deep satisfaction in knowing that you’ve helped make someone’s life just a little bit easier. Each time I drive away from a home where I’ve volunteered, I leave not just feeling fulfilled but also more grounded, more connected to the people around me.”

Once a year a recipient will be chosen through their nomination process, and friends, families and caregivers are encouraged to nominate people who appreciate and need some landscape maintenance services.

Those nominated must be resident of Kelowna or West Kelowna, they must be unable to care for their own yard, and they must have a yard that requires landscaping.

“As a landscaper who regularly volunteers my time to help those in need, I’ve come to realize just how impactful a simple act of service can be, not only for those I assist but also for myself and the wider community,” Colette said.

Those interested in nominating someone can head to the Creative Roots Landscaping website.

Photo: Phillip Goldsberry, Unsplash

A prominent social service group is celebrating 20 years of helping those in Okanagan communities.

Partners in Resources, or Piers, was created in 2004 to provide essential services like employment opportunities, housing support and skill development programs to those in need.

“This 20th anniversary is a testament to the dedication of our team and the unwavering support from the communities we serve,” Piers director Anai Sangrar-Ordonez said in a press release. “We remain committed to our mission of empowering vulnerable individuals through meaningful employment services, safe housing opportunities, and skill development.

“As we reflect on our achievements, we look forward to continuing to innovate and expand our services to meet the evolving needs of our community.”

Piers, which usually operates behind the scenes, has launched numerous successful programs over the last 20 years, including FreshSTART and Reaching Home. It also provides specialized services like customized employment services within WorkBC and CLBC services.

Piers said its programs have directly benefited more than 10,000 individuals and have empowered community members by providing them with the tools and resources necessary to achieve independence and success.

Anyone interested in programming or for more information about Partners in Resources, visit its website here.