The current inadequate Lake Country Food Bank location in the former Winfield Elementary School.
Image Credit: Contributed
January 27, 2015 - 4:42 PM
LAKE COUNTRY – The Lake Country Food Bank is one step closer to getting the new facility it so desperately needs.
In September of last year, the food bank entered into a national non-profit charity contest that gives out $1 million in prizes for deserving organizations in need.
The Aviva Community Fund announced Tuesday that the Lake Country Food Bank is one of the grand prize winners that will be awarded $100,000. The money will go towards a brand new, million dollar facility.
The food bank currently operates out of the back of the old Winfield Elementary School building, which according to their contest page is too old, too small and no longer meets the needs of the community.
“Although Lake Country is an agricultural community, the Food Bank does not have the space or facilities to store fresh produce, so clients do not receive the healthy fruit and vegetables which could be available,” the page says. “There is no client reception area. Each day, year round, families, single parents, young children, and seniors seeking food assistance must line up outside, often in extreme weather conditions. The building has now been put up for sale, making a new, permanent location for the Food Bank even more essential.”
The food bank made it to the finals in December, getting around 6,000 votes from around the Okanagan. On Tuesday they found out they had been chosen as one of the grand prize winners, which comes with a cash prize of $100,000.
According to their website, the municipality has donated land and waived fees and taxes and the Rotary Club of Lake Country has raised over $125,000. They also have received pledges from engineering and trades students in the area worth over $265,000 in materials and labour.
The society needs another $200,000 to complete the project.
For information on the food bank or to donate, call 250-766-0125 or visit the contest website.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015