Fundraising efforts are officially underway to raise funds for the Penticton YES project's purchase of 501 Main Street for a youth centre.

(STEVE ARSTAD / iNFOnews.ca)

PENTICTON - Fundraising has begun in ernest for a new youth centre in Penticton.

The Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen announced the launch of a fundraising campaign to purchase 501 Main Street in a press release issued yesterday, Dec. 5.

Foundation Executive Director Aaron McRann says the foundation has more than $900,000 already committed as fundraising efforts hope to raise $3 million towards the purchase.

Penticton City Council recently endorsed the effort with a $300,000 grant at recent budget talks.

Fundraising efforts will be spearheaded by long time Penticton resident Judy Lloyd who will chair the drive for funds.

“We are very pleased by the support from the City of Penticton because it shows that council has been listening to our young people in their work with the YES project,” Lloyd says.

“Our youth know what they need and they have been telling us for five years that a centralized hub of resources will make it easier to access mental health resources,” she adds.

The youth centre is expected to provide a safe, youth-friendly place where young people can come for a range of support and resources, providing access to such things as mental, physical and sexual health supports as well as providing an access point for assistance with addictions.

More than 20 local organizations supporting  Penticton youth through their own service delivery systems all agree a centralized hub for these services will improve the effectiveness of delivery.

For more information, or to make a donation to the YES youth centre, contact: Aaron McRann, Executive Director, Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen, at 250-493-9311, or by cell at:250-488-0036.

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