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Kelowna  

Charity valet at the mall

Update 5 p.m.

Castanet has been informed that Orchard Park Shopping Centre has pulled their partnership with the organizers of the valet, due to weather and spacing concerns. Organizer Ben Calder says he is working towards negotiating a win-win for all parties and hopes the project can go-ahead as planned.

However it does not appear there will be valet parking at the mall for Black Friday as anticipated.
 


The cold weather shuffle, armed with multiple gift bags in hand, is a familiar story to Christmas shoppers. But this season might be a little easier with some Okanagan residents helping out around the holidays.

Ben Calder is teaming up with Saxx entrepreneur Trent Kitsch, his wife Ria and the Orchard Park Shopping Centre to provide a charity valet parking service during busy mall hours over the Christmas season.

Starting this Friday, Nov. 21, from 4 to 9 p.m., the team will be located in front of the Shoppers Drug Mart entrance facing Highway 97, and they will have a special area sectioned off to park vehicles.

It will cost five dollars cash (there is a service fee for those who use credit/debit) to have your vehicle valet parked, with part of the proceeds going to the Central Okanagan Hospice Association for this Friday’s event, and various different charities for the rest of the holiday season.

Kitsch pitched the idea to Calder, who is an Okanagan College business student, with the hopes Calder would take the reins and make the ‘Charity Valet’ a reality.

“He really wanted to give an opportunity to a young entrepreneur who he trusts to help him with this project,” explains Calder. “He is also hoping to employ other Okanagan College or UBCO students this holiday season to help with the valet.”

Charity Valet kicks off this Friday, but won’t really get underway until November 28 -- also known as Black Friday.

Dates for Charity Valet are:

  • November 28, 4-9 p.m.
  • November 29-30, 1- 9 p.m.

The team hopes to finalize a lengthier schedule as the holiday season progresses and they will soon have a Facebook and Twitter feed under Kelowna Charity Valet.

“We will also have a waiting area inside between Shoppers Drug Mart and Chapters, so when you’re ready to pick up your vehicle you don’t have to wait in the cold,” says Calder.

If you’re interested in becoming a valet driver this holiday season and help raise funds for Okanagan charities please contact Calder at: [email protected]



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