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Poverty, a struggle for nutrition
Nov 21, 2011 / 5:00 am
The Kelowna Community Food Bank thrives on the familiar faces of friends, one belonging to Jerry whose story we first shared, last year. He’s a quiet man with a kind smile, who, unfortunately, is still one of the many faces of hunger.
Jerry started working soon after he turned 13 and earned his living through a lifetime of economic ups and downs. “I worked on lots of the City’s big buildings and always had one or more jobs going in order to put food on the table,” Jerry told us. “Things were different back then; a man could feed his family as long as he was willing to work hard,” he said.
Times have been tough since a work place accident forced him to retire from construction in 1999. Now 77-years-old and on his own, Jerry receives less than $1500 per month from his Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security benefits, combined.
Unfortunately, with his limited monthly income, it doesn’t leave much after his rent and living expenses have been taken care of. He has had a few health issues over this past year, as well, and even though most of those expenses are covered, those extra incidentals have made it that much harder to make ends meet. What always seems to come last is fresh food.
Hunger and poverty continue to be critical issues throughout the country and Food Banks Canada reports that produce and perishables are the first to be cut from low-income budgets. Unfortunately, more and more seniors like Jerry have to turn to Food Banks for help each month. Without that nutritional assistance, medical problems could be far worse for many, creating a larger strain on health care programs.
“My first visit was after I had to stop working in 1999. You know, every month it seems that food gets more expensive,” says Jerry, who qualifies for the Food Bank’s Vitality for Seniors 55 + Nutrition program. “I usually can’t afford to buy much fruit and vegetables, dairy, or meat anymore, … I don’t know what I would do without my monthly food hamper. All I can do is say thank you for being there.”
For Jerry and many more like him - the folks who helped build our community but now struggle to afford to live here - the Cast A Light Campaign provides an opportunity to help out and give back by supporting the Kelowna Community Food Bank. It’s the best way you can say thank you to Jerry.
Read more Cast-A-Light articles
Donate online:
Questions call: 250-763-7161
Donations will automatically be recognized online. If you wish your contribution to be anonymous please email info@kelownafoodbank.com
Help us reach our goal of $50,000
Top Cast-a-light Donors
Personal
- Cast A Light Auction $7,404.63
- Barry Chase $4,000.00
- Anonymous $2,139.12
1-25 Employees
- Pihl Law Corporation $1,000.00
- J Kirby And Co. $600.00
- Pandosy Street Developments Ltd $500.00
26-50 Employees
- Kel West Carriers Ltd $1,200.00
76-100 Employees
- Competition Glass $625.00
Recent Challenges
- Alana Marrington from Pandosy Street Developments Ltd. puts a challenge out (on behalf of Collett Manor) to all employees and past care recipients in the medical community, as well as those in the golf and hospitality industries.
- Al Cosar from Kel West Carriers Ltd. puts a friendly challenge out to all transportation companies to match or better their $1200 Cast-A-Light donation.
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Cast-a-light Donors
- Cast A Light Auction $7404.63
- Barry Chase $4000.00
- Anonymous $2139.12
- Kelowna Pipe Band $2058.74
- Gerald Goertsen $1500.00
- Kel West Carriers Ltd $1200.00
- David Flemming $1000.00
- Pirjo Boucher $1000.00
- Pihl Law Corporation $1000.00
- Richard Skrapek $1000.00
- Kenneth Phillips $1000.00
- Nicola Consiglio $1000.00
- Daryl Klassen $1000.00
- Colin Axelson $1000.00
- Competition Glass $625.00
- J Kirby And Co. $600.00
- William Farley $600.00
- Stephen Netzlaw $600.00
- Janet Morton $500.00
- Jayne Brooks $500.00
- Bruce Stone $500.00
- Judith A Stringer $500.00
- Bernard Morel $500.00
- Jorin Wolf $500.00
- Pandosy Street Developments Ltd $500.00
- Mary Jane Slavin $500.00
- Onsite Custom Software $500.00
- Albert Chu $500.00
- Joyce Brinkerhoff $500.00
- Hugh Culver $500.00
- Donald Greer $500.00
- Pam Neveu $500.00
- Shaundra Ihas $500.00
- Bob Brandes $500.00
- Tom Kuntz $500.00
- Michael Sidoni $500.00
- Cindy Roth $500.00
- Brian Shepard $336.00
- Thomas E Wyatt $300.00
- Geri Davis $250.00
- Tara Treadgold $250.00
- Cecile OBrien $200.00
- Alexander Campbell $200.00
- Anonymous $200.00
- Corey Doak $200.00
- Brian Milligen $200.00
- David Jones $200.00
- Ricardo's Mediterranean $200.00
- Joyce House Bed & Breakfast $200.00
- Anne O'Keefe $200.00
- James Berwick $200.00
- Aaron Jackson $200.00
- Theresa Leitch $200.00
- Sandra Backman $190.46
- Leena Phillips $150.00
- Loren Tottier $150.00
- James Robinson $150.00
- Steve Wahl $135.00
- Norm Tearoe $125.00
- Gary Stoutenburg $100.00
- Terry Hogan $100.00
- Janet Stein $100.00
- Dana Osborne $100.00
- Inder Tumber $100.00
- Steve Sharman $100.00
- Sheilagh Livingstone $100.00
- Keith Alimonti $100.00
- Geoffrey McLaren $100.00
- Russ Horton $100.00
- Christina Coombes $100.00
- Taylor venden Brink $100.00
- Richard Provost $100.00
- Michael Delorme $100.00
- Cameron McIntyre $100.00
- James Kay $100.00
- Donald Searle $100.00
- Kevin Mcdonnell $100.00
- Kathy Adie $100.00
- Dulce Fry $100.00
- Leslie A Falk $100.00
- Lori Field $100.00
- PKW Management $100.00
- Chris Jenner $100.00
- Christine Poirier $100.00
- Caitlyn Liberto $100.00
- Denise Kristensen $100.00
- Ken Murray $100.00
- Jim and Marilyn Ivanitz $100.00
- Aurora Corcoran $100.00
- Ena Galloway $100.00
- James D. Dickie $100.00
- Darcy and Sonia Provost $100.00
- Doug Kilgour $100.00
- Margot Carlyle $100.00
- Troy Mack $100.00
- Chris Ridley $100.00
- Chad Semeniuk $100.00
- Deborah Wiersma $100.00
- Christine J. Von Lokvenz $100.00
- Monika Jaegli $100.00
- Susanne Hirschmiller $100.00
- Laurie Lowe $100.00
- Zoe Bird $100.00
- Railene Anfuso $100.00
- Michelle Jamison $100.00
- Anne Lacey $100.00
- Janet Sutherland $100.00
- Kate Carr $100.00
- Leanna McDonald $100.00
- Gayle Voyer $100.00
- Lisa Michelle Taylor $100.00
- Susan Ruck $100.00
- Wendy Spence $100.00
- Darryl Somcher $100.00
- David Harman $100.00
- Heather Baker $100.00
- Leanne Pastore $75.00
- Donna Kozak $60.00
- Sellena, Shawn and Karen $60.00
- Andrea and Ryan Saari $50.00
- Judy Ronacher $50.00
- Polly Palmer $50.00
- BAI Comics $50.00
- Paul Shearing $50.00
- Morgan Tranfield $50.00
- Donaleen Glosser $50.00
- Sharon Hyatt $50.00
- Brijesh Mathur $50.00
- Heather Stoutenburg $50.00
- Charles Stuart $50.00
- Meagan Lauer $50.00
- Denis Beaudry $50.00
- Sandra Hinterleitner $50.00
- Tracy Harrison $50.00
- Patricia Bellamy $50.00
- Tom Bell $50.00
- Tamera Sinclair $50.00
- Christina Street $50.00
- Tera Pemberton $50.00
- Lindsay Sill $50.00
- Gwynne Harries $50.00
- Keith Gaudreau $50.00
- Robert Sawatzky $50.00
- Justin Hettinga $50.00
- Christopher Krause $50.00
- Kris Kutny $50.00
- Adrian Rizzo $50.00
- Cameron Henry $50.00
- Katie Rogers $50.00
- Sandy Nestor $50.00
- Heather E. Geni $50.00
- Holly Hudson Bobyn $50.00
- Shane Worman $50.00
- Gail Prichard $50.00
- Meiko Koga $50.00
- Erin Dickieson $50.00
- Joyce Doege $50.00
- Lynsay Pickard $50.00
- Anonymous $50.00
- Gordon Guild $50.00
- Dana Kruiper $50.00
- Karen Tymchuk $40.00
- Joel Yanow $36.00
- David Greenshields $30.00
- George Grinnell $30.00
- Ron P. Ruppel $25.00
- Kelvin Giesbrecht $25.00
- Carmen Perrett $25.00
- Mary C Smith $25.00
- Shelley Stoochnow $25.00
- Michelle Kooistra $25.00
- Wealth Win At Home $25.00
- Roberta Snow $25.00
- Griffen Seed $25.00
- Minh Le $20.00
- Starla Reynolds $20.00
- Karen Emmond $20.00
- Carling Benson $20.00
- Christina D Shaak $20.00
- Susan Ross $20.00
- Dennis Bennett $20.00
- Dixie Beardmore $20.00
- Corey Sullivan $20.00
- Adam Goodwin $15.00
- Brett Slutker $15.00
- Lydia Ross $10.00
- Nicholas Mcparland $10.00
- IKirsten Harrison $10.00
- Lisa Fennell $10.00
- Xavier Mendoza $10.00
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- Thank you Kelowna! Jan 17
- With a little help from our friends Dec 30
- Misato helps the children Dec 29
- Lindsay gets on the bus Dec 28
- Interior Savings spreads the joy Dec 27
- Angels for Donna Dec 26
- SIFE: making a difference Dec 23
- Christmas is all about connections Dec 22
- Coping with severe allergies Dec 21
- No hungry children Dec 20
- Donations still needed Dec 20
- Volunteer superstars Dec 20
- Don't take anything for granted Dec 19
- Okanagan Chefs dishing out support Dec 16
- Don't take the basics for granted Dec 15
- Cancer, chemo and a need to pay bills Dec 14
- 40% more children use the food bank Dec 13
- Soup to calm the soul Dec 12
- Kelowna Hostesses: a toy story Dec 9
- Choking down green pancakes Dec 8
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