Charity and Donations

Ken Barkman at Save-On-Foods in Garrison Crossing on June 5, 2022. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress)

78-year-old Ken Barkman of Chilliwack riding 3,000 kilometres for BC Children’s Hospital

Grandfather helping son and wife, who have adopted four high-risk babies

 

People are rallying behind the Drombolis family of North Langley. Dad Shane has been battling a rare form of cancer and mom Kristine was recently diagnosed with the very same condition. (GoFundMe)

Community rallies to help B.C. couple battling rare form of cancer

GoFundMe launched after wife was diagnosed with the same rare cancer husband is fighting

 

The Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre is among a number of North Okanagan-Shuswap organizations given provincial grant funding to help with the arts in B.C. (Contributed)

North Okanagan-Shuswap arts groups benefit from B.C. cash

Government supports artists and groups in the province with grant funds

 

To continue supporting youth across BC, 11 Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies are coming together to host The Big BC Lotto. Buy your tickets now for a chance to win half the jackpot in a classic 50/50 draw!

Lotto for a cause: Half for you, half for ‘Bigs’ and ‘Littles’ across BC!

The Big BC Lotto helps connect youth with caring mentors across the province

  • Apr 11, 2022
To continue supporting youth across BC, 11 Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies are coming together to host The Big BC Lotto. Buy your tickets now for a chance to win half the jackpot in a classic 50/50 draw!
Lily Bowers with her Ukraine flag-style quilt, made to help raise funds to support those displaced by the conflict in Ukraine. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

Sparwood woman raises over $2K for Ukraine with special handmade blanket

Lily Bowers donated $2,210 raised through ticket sales to the Red Cross

Lily Bowers with her Ukraine flag-style quilt, made to help raise funds to support those displaced by the conflict in Ukraine. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
Ukrainian members of the 2008-09 Canada World Youth exchange dress in their traditional clothing for an event in Port Alberni 13 years ago. (PHOTO COURTESY BEN SCHEIDEGGER)

Canada-Ukraine exchange students return to B.C. town to help and to remember

2008-09 Canada World Youth students spent three months in Ukraine and three months in Alberni

Ukrainian members of the 2008-09 Canada World Youth exchange dress in their traditional clothing for an event in Port Alberni 13 years ago. (PHOTO COURTESY BEN SCHEIDEGGER)
Sarah Beairsto (left), seven-year-old Harper Harvey and Debra Legge with boxes of Girl Guides cookies outside a warehouse in North Delta on Saturday, March 12. (Photo: Tom Zillich)

Girl Guides back to door-to-door cookie sales after 2 years of doing business differently

Chocolate/vanilla cookies sold in spring, and those who love the mint ones have to wait until fall

Sarah Beairsto (left), seven-year-old Harper Harvey and Debra Legge with boxes of Girl Guides cookies outside a warehouse in North Delta on Saturday, March 12. (Photo: Tom Zillich)
Lily Bowers of Sparwood is creating a quilt made with Ukrainian flag colours to help raise funds to support refugees. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

Sparwood local creates quilt for Ukraine

Any funds raised from the quilt’s sale will go towards helping refugees escaping the war in Ukraine

Lily Bowers of Sparwood is creating a quilt made with Ukrainian flag colours to help raise funds to support refugees. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
Shuswap Women Who Wine will be holding their next Community Giving Event at Song Sparrow Hall in Salmon Arm on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (File photo)

Shuswap Women Who Wine to reach milestone with upcoming Community Giving Event

Tropical theme chosen for March 5 event at Song Sparrow Hall

Shuswap Women Who Wine will be holding their next Community Giving Event at Song Sparrow Hall in Salmon Arm on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (File photo)
Applications are now being taken until March 1 for capital project funds from the Co-op Community Spaces Program. (Communityspaces.ca)

Capital project funds available for North Okanagan-Shuswap projects

Co-op Community Spaces Program dedicating $1 million to help bring Western Canada communities together

Applications are now being taken until March 1 for capital project funds from the Co-op Community Spaces Program. (Communityspaces.ca)
Air Rescue One Heli-Winch Society, founded by Vernon Search and Rescue, needs a new winch and SilverStar Mountain Resort is trying to help them get it. A $20 portion of lift ticket sales will be donated to the Star’s Play Forever Fund Monday, Feb. 21 – Family Day – and donations will be matched up to $10,000, all in support of the society. (Facebook photo)

Vernon’s SilverStar Mountain lifts heli-winch society spirits

Portion of lift ticket sales Family Day Monday go toward helping Air Rescue One get new helicopter winch

Air Rescue One Heli-Winch Society, founded by Vernon Search and Rescue, needs a new winch and SilverStar Mountain Resort is trying to help them get it. A $20 portion of lift ticket sales will be donated to the Star’s Play Forever Fund Monday, Feb. 21 – Family Day – and donations will be matched up to $10,000, all in support of the society. (Facebook photo)
Matt, Jody, Lucy and Lilly Gallant (alongside Izzy) have received help for Lucy’s disabilities from Variety BC. Lucy’s story will be shared as part of Variety’s annual telethon broadcast on Global TV. (Submitted Photo)

Quesnel kindergartener ‘poster-girl’ for Variety telethon

Lucy Gallant, along with her twin sister Lilly, have been filming commercials for the telethon

Matt, Jody, Lucy and Lilly Gallant (alongside Izzy) have received help for Lucy’s disabilities from Variety BC. Lucy’s story will be shared as part of Variety’s annual telethon broadcast on Global TV. (Submitted Photo)
The Morning Star is making a donation to the local Cinderella Project, which provides formal clothing and accessories to underprivileged teenagers so they can attend their graduation ceremony or prom with their peers. The money was collected from the sale of roll ends at the Morning Star’s front desk. (Facebook photo)

Vernon Black Press branch rolls out grad donation

Sales of the Morning Star newspaper roll ends donated to Cinderella Project for underprivileged teens

The Morning Star is making a donation to the local Cinderella Project, which provides formal clothing and accessories to underprivileged teenagers so they can attend their graduation ceremony or prom with their peers. The money was collected from the sale of roll ends at the Morning Star’s front desk. (Facebook photo)
The Jingle Bell Build fundraiser raised $25,000 thanks to help from the community, RE/MAX and local businesses (Habitat for Humanity)

Habitat for Humanity raises funds to build 12 affordable homes in Lake Country

The charity’s Jingle Bell Build fundraiser raised $25,000 to build safe, affordable homes

The Jingle Bell Build fundraiser raised $25,000 thanks to help from the community, RE/MAX and local businesses (Habitat for Humanity)
Victoria Humane Society celebrated what would have been Betty White’s 100th birthday with a collage as people took part in the #BettyWhiteChallenge, donating cash to an animal charity. (Victoria Humane Society/Facebook)

Love for Betty White tallies nearly $500,000 for animal welfare groups in B.C.

What would have been iconic actor’s 100th birthday sees $40,000 donated to Victoria Humane Society

Victoria Humane Society celebrated what would have been Betty White’s 100th birthday with a collage as people took part in the #BettyWhiteChallenge, donating cash to an animal charity. (Victoria Humane Society/Facebook)
Lead Pastor, Mark Wagner, from the Kelowna Salvation Army, joins Officer Jennifer Henson and Lenetta Parry from the Westside Salvation Army, for a picture with Real Canadian Superstore Assistant Manager, Randy Sheehan, and Gary Bennett in front of some of the shelf-stable, healthy, and ready to eat food items purchased for the Salvation Army’s Emergency Food Hamper programs (Salvation Army/ Submitted)

Kelowna charity donation to the Salvation Army feeds local community

Gary Bennet Family Fund gave $3000 to local Salvation Army locations to fund food programs

Lead Pastor, Mark Wagner, from the Kelowna Salvation Army, joins Officer Jennifer Henson and Lenetta Parry from the Westside Salvation Army, for a picture with Real Canadian Superstore Assistant Manager, Randy Sheehan, and Gary Bennett in front of some of the shelf-stable, healthy, and ready to eat food items purchased for the Salvation Army’s Emergency Food Hamper programs (Salvation Army/ Submitted)
Corinna Wiebe, with daughter Sydney Stenberg, was overwhelmed when she saw the extent of renovations to their Aldergrove home. (LifeApp video image)

VIDEO: Aldergrove woman with cancer gets new home, thanks to local charity

Charity releases video to thank more than 200 volunteers, 80 companies and 130 donors

Corinna Wiebe, with daughter Sydney Stenberg, was overwhelmed when she saw the extent of renovations to their Aldergrove home. (LifeApp video image)
(front row from left) Andrew MacLeod and TJ Dumonceaux, (back row from left ) COSAR Training Director John Paterson, COSAR President Brad Trites and COSAR Snowmobile Team Lead Amos Rossworm (COSAR)

Kelowna snowmobilers giving back after backcountry rescue

The two men are donating $15,000 to the COSAR

(front row from left) Andrew MacLeod and TJ Dumonceaux, (back row from left ) COSAR Training Director John Paterson, COSAR President Brad Trites and COSAR Snowmobile Team Lead Amos Rossworm (COSAR)
SilverStar Mountain Resort recently made a donation from its Play Forever fund to the North Valley Gymnastics Society, which lost its Vernon facility to a fire on Hallloween morning. (SilverStar Photo)

Vernon ski resort fund amps up December initiatives

SilverStar Mountain Resort’s Play Forever Fund has donated more than $140K since 2019

SilverStar Mountain Resort recently made a donation from its Play Forever fund to the North Valley Gymnastics Society, which lost its Vernon facility to a fire on Hallloween morning. (SilverStar Photo)
Since 1995, the Garnett Valley Gang has been staging train robberies at the Kettle Valley Steam Railway in Summerland. Proceeds from these robberies are donated to charities. The gang is now looking for new members to assist them. (Summerland Review file photo)

Summerland gang seeks train robbers

Garnett Valley Gang has been robbing tourist train passengers for charity since 1995

Since 1995, the Garnett Valley Gang has been staging train robberies at the Kettle Valley Steam Railway in Summerland. Proceeds from these robberies are donated to charities. The gang is now looking for new members to assist them. (Summerland Review file photo)