Food bank fills gaps for new family
Consider this Christmas a trial run for baby Beau. He’s just three months old, so he’s not really aware of what’s happening around him. Of course, that won’t stop his mom, Marisha, and dad, Chris, from doing all they can to make it great.
“I’m superexcited,” says Marisha. “We took him to meet Santa at the mall, which I never did as a child.”
Their plans for Christmas are low key after that. Marisha couldn’t work after Beau was born. She’s had to give up two jobs (she works in child care), and while Chris is working, there seem to be more bills than cheques these days. That’s what brought them to the Central Okanagan Community Food Bank.
“They’re just so kind down there,” Marisha said. “It’s really touching. The Tiny Bundles program has been a real help.”
The food bank’s Tiny Bundles program supports pregnant mothers and families with babies under age one. Tiny Bundles clients receive weekly nutritional support including milk and eggs, fresh fruits and vegetables for pregnant or nursing mothers, and baby basics including diapers, wipes, baby food, formula and baby cereal.
New mothers receive a one-time layette containing essential baby items when the baby is born.
Baby Beau is one of the 100 babies served by the food bank’s Tiny Bundles program every week and among many of the children to benefit from your donation to The Daily Courier’s Be an Angel Campaign.
You can Be an Angel four ways: drop by The Daily Courier office 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays to donate cash or by cheque, debit or credit card; use your credit card to donate online at KelownaDailyCourier.ca (click Be an Angel in the menu); make a contribution at any Valley First Credit Union branch; or use your credit card over the phone by calling The Daily Courier at 250-470-0756.
All contributors will be recognized with their name in the paper, and all donors who give $20 or more will receive a tax receipt.
For a list of the most recent donors to the Be an Angel campaign, and the latest total, see page A4.