Cast-A-Light
Working hard to put food on the table
by Trevor Rockliffe - Story: 84426
Dec 12, 2012 / 5:00 am

Two years after the recession working people continue to struggle to pay the rent and put healthy food on the table. Food Banks Canada reports that the “need has broadened in the past four years to include those who might least expect to use a food bank.”

From working people and two-parent families to home and business owners, your neighbour could be using the food bank and you’d never know it.

Over 600 new clients register at the Kelowna Food bank per year, 40% are children.

One of them is Deanna. She arrived in Kelowna looking for a better future for her and her son Liam who is nearly five years old. 

Deanna earned her office administration certificate and has several years of experience as a receptionist and administration assistant. “Times were tough in Prince George,” says Deanna, “so we used what little savings we had and moved.”

With office jobs in short supply, Deanna found part-time work as a barista at a coffee shop, earning minimum wage and no benefits.

After paying for childcare, rent, utilities and her monthly bus pass she has very little money left for food.

A co-worker suggested she call the Kelowna Food Bank.  Deanna receives a monthly family food hamper and Liam gets his own Kids Snack Pack to take to pre-school.  “The meat, dairy, eggs and produce help balance our diet,” she says.  “Liam really likes the fruit snacks.”

Deanna is glad to be working, but feels that most people don’t realize how difficult it is to raise a child in Kelowna on minimum wage. 

“I have always been a hard worker and provided for myself,” she says.  “I plan to go back to school for more training.  One day I want to manage an office, but right now I just need to care for Liam.”

Deanna and Liam need your help right now.  Your donation means a better future for them both.

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Questions call: 250-763-7161

Donations will automatically be recognized online. If you wish your contribution to be anonymous please email info@kelownafoodbank.com

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Top Cast-a-light Donors

Personal

  1. Kelowna Minor Hockey Association $11,305.00
  2. Barry Chase $4,000.00
  3. Gerald Goertsen $1,200.00

1-25 Employees

  1. Voyager RV $500.00

26-50 Employees

  1. Employees of Canadian Commercial Vehicles $3,815.00
  2. Rutland Glass $3,700.00
  3. Re Max Foundation $1,365.00

Recent Challenges

  • Jesse East of the Re Max Kelowna Foundation challenges all Real Estate agents to support the Food Bank.
  • Gerald Goertsen would like to challenge all other financial advisors in Kelowna to match his $1200.00 donation.
  • The staff at Canadian Comercial Vehicles raised 763 pounds of food and toys for the Food Bank, they challenge all commercial and industrial manufacturers to do the same this Christmas!
  • Rutland Glass challenges all commercial contractors to support the Cast-A-Light campaign today with a minimum $500 donation!
  • All Security Companies to donate $500

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Cast-a-light Donors

  • Kelowna Minor Hockey Association $11305.00
  • Barry Chase $4000.00
  • Employees of Canadian Commercial Vehicles $3815.00
  • Rutland Glass $3700.00
  • Re Max Foundation $1365.00
  • Gerald Goertsen $1200.00
  • Shaundra Ihas $1000.00
  • Lee Claremont in memory of Christina Judith Claremont $650.00
  • Janet Kirby $600.00
  • William Farley $600.00
  • Heather McInnes $500.00
  • Brenda Nestibo $500.00
  • Voyager RV $500.00
  • Michael Sidoni $500.00
  • Bobbi Brooke $300.00
  • Brian Milligen $300.00
  • Tara Treadgold $300.00
  • Keith Wemp $250.00
  • Denise deHass $250.00
  • Fran Hansum $250.00
  • James Berwick $250.00
  • Harold B Henderson $250.00
  • Maria N Turner $200.00
  • Jim H Hayashi $200.00
  • Alan Bruce $200.00
  • Carolyn Walsh $200.00
  • Nancy Cameron $200.00
  • Ria H Hayden $200.00
  • Tammy Rittich $200.00
  • Judith A Stringer $200.00
  • Bruce Miller $200.00
  • Norma Malanowich $200.00
  • Anne Pistawka $200.00
  • Carman Jones $150.00
  • Lesley Eames $120.00
  • Meinis Schmidt $110.00
  • Oliver Balske $100.00
  • Denise Sullivan $100.00
  • William Canning $100.00
  • Adrian Rizzo $100.00
  • George McFeeters $100.00
  • James D Dickie $100.00
  • Ed Culos $100.00
  • Marlise Leibel $100.00
  • Randy Simpson $100.00
  • Norm Tearoe $100.00
  • Martha Janz $100.00
  • Yuliya Melnichuk $100.00
  • Gladys Leach $100.00
  • Bonny Kilgour $100.00
  • Terry Hogan $100.00
  • Peter Gregg $100.00
  • James Gordon $100.00
  • Huw Evans $100.00
  • Denis Beaudry $100.00
  • Pat Alaric $100.00
  • Kelley Waterhouse $100.00
  • Ena Galloway $100.00
  • Graham Bruce $100.00
  • Sharon Lezica $100.00
  • Virginia de Jong $80.00
  • Mihn Le $50.00
  • Tracey Harrison $50.00
  • Gail Prichard $50.00
  • Claire J Larose $50.00
  • Dustin Gumpinger $50.00
  • Barb Ellis $50.00
  • Stacie Mosicki $50.00
  • Jan Enns $50.00
  • Carol Butcher $50.00
  • Denise Campbell $50.00
  • Tanis Read $50.00
  • Lynsay Pickard $50.00
  • Dana Kruiper $50.00
  • Corrine Pearson $50.00
  • Barbara Bailey $50.00
  • Else Kristensen $50.00
  • Lauren Fleming $50.00
  • Chase Vigar $50.00
  • Brian Miller $50.00
  • Gwynne Harries $50.00
  • Price Kenney $50.00
  • Joel Yanow $50.00
  • Tamera Sinclair $50.00
  • Merrie-Jean Mulhern $50.00
  • Paul and Carole Snider $50.00
  • George Grinnell $40.00
  • Michelle Pidduck $40.00
  • Mary C Smith $40.00
  • Aldyn Overend $30.00
  • Sharon Hyatt $25.00
  • Shannon Smith $25.00
  • Stormee Riggs $25.00
  • Jeannie Hyatt $25.00
  • Kelvin Giesbrecht $25.00
  • Jeremy Zinger $25.00
  • N Battaglio $20.00
  • Drikus Verwey $20.00
  • Nicole Peach $20.00
  • Steve Holmes $20.00
  • Paul Bohn $10.00
  • Kathleen Boloten $8.00

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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 sixth 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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