Image Credit: Shutterstock

Despite the lack on snow, Christmas is still fast approaching and many organizations across the Thompson-Okanagan region are gearing up to raise funds and help those in need this holiday season.

Lake Country Health, a non-profit operating in the Central Okanagan community, is operating a Nomination Program to identify families and residents experiencing financial hardship, health concerns or loneliness this Christmas.

Those who submit a nomination via the online form will have their application reviewed by a team of volunteers who will then determine the best means of support. This could include an offer of Christmas dinner, presents or companionship during the holidays.

READ MORE: Charities in Kamloops, Okanagan already spreading Christmas cheer

“Many people have found themselves dealing with inflation and rising costs for food, gas, utilities and housing. It is hard enough on middle-income earners, so you can only imagine how hard it is hitting low-income seniors and families,” executive director Lonna Grange said in a press release. “Inflation is especially hard on our Lake Country seniors who live on a limited, fixed income.”

The Central Okanagan Food Bank also aims to provide Christmas hampers to 3,600 Okanagan households, including 7,400 individual residents and 1,000 seniors.

Hampers will include essentials such as milk, eggs, potatoes, carrots and onions and will also come with a turkey, ham or chicken, fresh fruit and breakfast items like syrup mix and pancakes, CEO Trevor Moss told iNFOnews.ca.

READ MORE: More than 1,000 Central Okanagan seniors relying on food bank this Christmas

The food bank is accepting monetary donations and accepting help from volunteers.

"We're still serving families right now that are displaced from the fires. So we're continually doing that in reference to a long-term strategy," Moss said. "And the other thing that we are seeing is that 30% of our renters are paying higher than medium shelter costs, which is leaving them vulnerable."

The Penticton Youth Centre launched its Give Our Youth a Lift campaign to raise funds for an elevator in the Penticton Youth Centre’s three-floor building at 501 Main St.

“There is an emotional impact on young people when there are accessibility roadblocks,” Shelley Hunt at YMCA Penticton said in a press release. “We have had clients who are in wheelchairs, whom we continue to offer services to, but outside of our space. It does not send the message that this building is for all if it is not accessible to all. We are in the work of removing barriers, not creating them."

The centre offers primary care, mental health support, peer groups, employment programs and foster parent support, and serves close to 1,000 youth every year.

Kamloops resident displayed their goodwill by turning out to Stuff the Bus at the Columbia Square Save-On-Foods in support of the Kamloops Food Bank last week. Residents contributed more than $4,000 in monetary donations. They also filled an entire transit bus with 582 lb. of non-perishable food items.

Did we miss an upcoming charity event in your community? Let everyone know about it in the comment section below.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Georgina Whitehouse or call 250-864-7494 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here.

News from © iNFOnews, 2023