Photograph: Contributed
Kelowna’s iconic Tree of Hope is in its twenty fifth 12 months, and in celebration, the Stober FOundation will likely be matching all funds raised as much as $500,000 and directing them to the YMCA of Southern Inside BC and BGC Okanagan.
These two charities present key, life-changing packages to households all through the area yearly, together with BGC’s latest initiative, Households and Group Collectively (FACT).
The free program is in pilot kind at BGC’s Rutland Membership, and sees households attend a buffet-style dinner each Wednesday, adopted my actions led by recreation employees, plus entry to assets and classes like how one can make simple, wholesome, budget-friendly dinners.
Individuals additionally stroll away with a to-go meal equipment to have the next evening.
“I don’t suppose you notice how a lot my household wanted this, the dinners are superb, and the to-go meals actually assist with our meals finances. It’s so good to not must cook dinner the subsequent evening after getting house from work,” stated one guardian FACT participant, whose title is protected for privateness.
FACT grew rapidly, from simply two attending households to 17.
“It was an enormous success when it comes to households having fun with this system, getting meals to households and permitting them to spend extra high quality time collectively. Now we have already projected the subsequent session to be at capability and are longing for extra funding so we are able to keep away from having to show households away, improve staffing, provide buffet dinners to extra households, provide academic packages for folks and hand out extra meal kits,” stated Dana Hewitt, a household supervisor at BGC Okanagan.
“We’re listening to from the dad and mom that it’s good to get to spend the additional time with their kids. Some dad and mom are struggling to spend high quality time taking part in and bonding with their kids once they come house exhausted from working a number of jobs to maintain up with inflation. Once they come to FACT the dinner is being ready by BGC Okanagan employees and oldsters can use that point to commit solely to their youngster by means of actions led by our recreation employees. One guardian instructed us that it felt so good when their youngster stated they ‘had a lot enjoyable simply taking part in flooring hockey’ with them.”
The subsequent FACT program will begin on Wednesday, Jan. 25 on the Rutland Membership fitness center and is totally free for households and youngsters of all ages are welcome. It would run for eight weeks on Wednesday’s from 5:30 to eight p.m. For extra data on how one can become involved as a participant, or as volunteer offering cooking assist, set-up or clean-up contact [email protected]
Packages like FACT depend on donations from campaigns just like the Tree of Hope to succeed in as many individuals as attainable.
The Tree of Hope marketing campaign has already reached over $400,000, and you’ll assist attain the $500,000 by donating earlier than the tip of the 12 months.
For extra data and how one can donate, click here.
