1st food bank visit a tearful affair
Brandon is serious about his snow furniture. The five-year-old Kelowna boy is tracking the weather, not just for Christmas, but so he can pack together enough snow to build an ottoman. Yes, that’s right, a footstool. His mom, Helena, laughs when she tells the story. Brandon can’t wait for the snow in Kelowna to stick so they can enjoy one of their favourite wintertime activities again: building snow chairs with cup holders for their hot chocolate.
“He’s got my weird personality, so that’s good,” Helena says, laughing again.
You can help Kelowna families like Helena and Brandon by donating to Be an Angel this year.
Money raised stays in the Valley and helps the Central Okanagan Community Food Bank fill nearly 2,000 Christmas hampers this month.
Helena said the food bank was there when she was at her lowest point. She’d just gotten divorced.
“I left with my son and $60,” she says.
She turned to the food bank and will always remember the first time they received their food.
“I was literally crying the whole time,” she said.
Life is better today. Helena lives in a basement suite and works as a nanny for her landlords upstairs.
Helena and her son have a safe, clean roof over their heads and a fridge for food. Brandon has friends in the neighbourhood.
Even so, Helena said she still needs help from the food bank from time to time.
That’s why donations are so vital, because they help so many people in all situations in the community, she said.
You can Be an Angel by donating at The Daily Courier, online at kelownadailycourier.ca or by calling 250-4700756. For an updated list of donations,
The Daily Courier thanks the following individuals, businesses and groups for their contributions: In memory of Ruth Drury and Dora Power, $1,000 Dorothy Thomson, $1,000
John Appleton and Mary Jane Slavin, $400 Employees of Keldon Electric, $320
Bob and Kerry Nelson, $300
Ronald and Linda Vanderlinde, $200
Giving Grannies, $150
Kathleen and Richard Andrews, $100
Alfred Berting, $100
Bob Buchanan, $100
Betsy Buchanan, $100
Bill and Donna Clarke, $100
Barry and June Proud, $100
David Reesor, $100
The Sarafinchan Family, $100
Michael and Cherald Tutt, $250
Ben Verkerk, $100
Angela Kozar, $50
Donald and Mabel MacDonald, $50
In memory of Frank Roth, $50
In memory of Ida Kellie, $35 Anonymous, $400
Anonymous, $200
Anonymous, $200
Anonymous, $150
Anonymous, $100
Anonymous, $100
Anonymous, $100
Anonymous, $100
Anonymous, $50
Anonymous, $50
Monday’s total: $5,955
Thomas Budd Foundation: $1,488.75 Campaign total to date: $20,730