Drive nets over $95,000
Christmas fundraising campaign helps food bank distribute more than 2,000 hampers
The Be an Angel campaign in support of the Central Okanagan Community Food Bank raised $95,108.75.
The funds were provided by kindhearted readers of The Daily Courier, and the campaign was generously supported by local philanthropist Tom Budd.
Through the month of December, the paper presented stories about some of the many people helped by the food banks in Kelowna and West Kelowna.
“I am overwhelmed by the generosity of the community,” said Lenetta Parry, the food bank’s executive director.
“With these funds, we were able to spread so much Christmas cheer in our community,” Parry said. “This holiday season, thanks to the Be an Angel campaign, we were able to meet the needs in our community and make the holidays a little brighter for those less fortunate.
“Furthermore, these funds will help keep our shelves full into the new year,” Parry said.
“We wish to extend a heartfelt thank-you to every donor, Valley First Credit Union, Tom Budd, The Daily Courier and our clients for bravely sharing their stories,” Parry said.
The goal for the campaign was $100,000. Though the final total fell just short, it was still $2,000 more than was raised in 2017.
Through his charitable foundation, Budd contributed 25 cents for every dollar donated to the campaign in each of the past 10 years.
“It’s incredible to think how selfless he’s been over the decade,” Ed Kennedy, publisher of the Okanagan Valley Newspaper Group, said in early December of Budd’s generosity.
In December, the food bank distributed more than 2,000 hampers.