Cast-A-Light

Don't take anything for granted
by Contributed - Story: 68621
Dec 19, 2011 / 7:00 am

From a comfortable middle-class existence, nobody expects to have to depend on the kindness of others to house and feed their children, but that is what sometimes happens when things go bad. Though devastating, it can also be an education in human compassion never forgotten.

Teri lived what would be termed a normal, predictable middle-class lifestyle, married with three children, both she and her husband working. Predictable that is, until a difficult separation that landed her in a women’s shelter, in jeopardy of losing her children to a custody dispute with her husband. While she battled to keep them together and get back on her feet, the stress of it all took a further toll on her health. She managed to keep her children but lost everything else, including her job to the economic slowdown, in 2009.

She eventually began to receive court ordered support and found accommodation for her and her three children, an elementary school-aged daughter and two teens, but paying the rent and bills on such a small fixed income proved impossible. Teri says, “After about six months of just white knuckling it, a friend told me I was eligible for support from the Food Bank, so my young daughter and I went down and registered for the monthly hamper program. The Food Bank was there for me and helped keep us going for about a year and a half.”

With the extra stability afforded Teri through the Kelowna Food Bank, she was able to get back to a relatively stress-free living environment and has since returned to work. “About four months ago, I found a position with a non-profit organization and between that and the support I get from my husband, we’re doing a lot better now,” she says. “We didn’t register to get a Christmas hamper this year and that means someone else in the community who needs it more, gets one. We haven’t needed to go to the Food Bank for about four months now.”

In addition to the nutritional support received through the Food Bank, it also turned out to be a valuable educational experience. Teri says that her teenage children seemed less impacted by their situation because they tended to be more self-sufficient amongst their friends, an encouraging view of teen peer support in our community. But for her youngest daughter, who accompanied her on many of her visits to the Food Bank, it was a different reality. “For my young daughter, it was quite a unique experience having someone else give her food. As a middle class family, she was always used to just going to the fridge and finding food there,” she says. “It was a revelation for her. Now, she’s volunteering and giving back to the community herself, doing as much as she can to help at every opportunity. She doesn’t want to see someone else go through what she has gone through. So many of the things that we used to take for granted, she no longer takes for granted.”

Now, Teri understands so much more about the importance of the Kelowna Food Bank to the community, the changing face of Food Bank clients and the many different reasons why people end up there. She is much more accepting and less judgemental about those around her. “I was really nervous going to the Food Bank for the first time,” says Teri. “I remember going in the door, the people in Client Services and the volunteers were so friendly. It was so neat and organized. I didn’t feel any sense of shame or prejudice. There were other people there for the first time and you just don’t know everyone’s situation. It was such a broad spectrum of people and we were all there for the same reason, to feed our families. When I left, I just felt a huge weight lifted from my shoulders. Never in my life had I felt so grateful for a handful of potatoes. It made such a difference,” she says.

“Food is one of those fundamental things you should be able to provide for your family. Nobody should go hungry in our country, ever,” says Teri. “Now that I’m back working and I have a little bit of extra cash, when my daughter and I go shopping, she likes to pull that two dollar Food Bank donation slip off at the grocery store because it means so much to her, caring and thinking about others. It is really important to support the Food Bank, especially this time of year when so many are so vulnerable. I know how quickly things can change for people.”

HERE’S HOW YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE:

Please indicate if you wish for your name not to be listed on Castanet along with your donation amount – we automatically list it if the donor does not indicate otherwise.

 

Make a donation on Castanet (www.castanet.net) CAST-A-LIGHT Campaign from now until December 31st, 2011. (A tax receipt will be e-mailed to you for donations over $10.)

 

Drop your CAST-A-LIGHT donation off at the Kelowna Community Food Bank at 1265 Ellis Street (Downtown Kelowna) between 9 AM and 4 PM, Monday-Friday.

 

Mail in your CAST-A-LIGHT donation to:

Kelowna Community Food Bank

1265 Ellis Street, Kelowna, BC

V1Y 1Z7

Phone: 250-763-7161

Fax: 250-763-9116

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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

Every amount counts!


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Help us reach our goal of $50,000

Top Cast-a-light Donors

Personal

  1. Cast A Light Auction $7,404.63
  2. Barry Chase $4,000.00
  3. Anonymous $2,139.12

1-25 Employees

  1. Pihl Law Corporation $1,000.00
  2. J Kirby And Co. $600.00
  3. Pandosy Street Developments Ltd $500.00

26-50 Employees

  1. Kel West Carriers Ltd $1,200.00

76-100 Employees

  1. 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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About Cast-A-Light

Castanet.net has partnered with the Kelowna Community Food Bank to raise much needed funds, food, and toys for children and families in our community.

Our goal this year is to raise $50,000 with all funds going to programs at the Kelowna Community Food Bank.

Your donation to the fifth annual Cast-A-Light Campaign will provide a brighter future for those less fortunate in our community.
The Kelowna Community Food Bank will acknowledge all gifts to the Cast-A-Light Campaign. Tax receipts are mailed for donations in the amount of $10 or more with addresses provided.

View a Shaw TV segment from our 2007 campaign:




About the Food Bank

The Kelowna Community Food Bank is a self-supporting non-profit organization, raising food and funds through donations, special events, community food drives and local and national sponsors. The Food Bank is operated by a volunteer board of directors, 8 staff members and more than 100 volunteers who contribute over 20,000 hours annually, providing essential services including food collection, distribution and sorting, hamper preparation, client assistance and referrals, and special event planning and fundraising.

The Kelowna Community Food Bank was established in 1983 to provide short-term support to Kelowna families and individuals in need of temporary assistance. Since then the mission has grown to help alleviate chronic hunger and poverty in the Central Okanagan by providing our clients with a 5 to 7 day supply of healthy food on a monthly basis. Annually, we serve more than 30,000 persons including nearly 10,000 children, distributing over $2 million in food.

The Kelowna Food Bank is a member of The BC Association of Food Banks and the Canadian Association of Food Banks (CAFB).

1265 Ellis Street
Kelowna, BC V1Y 1Z7

Phone: 250-763-7161
Fax: 250-763-9116
Email: info@kcfb.ca
http://www.kelownafoodbank.com/



Family profiles on this page have been provided by the Kelowna Community Food Bank.



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