The 10th Annual South Okanagan Drive-Thru Breakfast raises nearly $26,000!
The 10th Annual South Okanagan Drive-Thru Breakfast raised nearly $26,000 on the morning of Wednesday, March 2nd – a record-breaking result made possible by the generosity of local businesses and community members. Volunteers rallied together to welcome hundreds of cars (including a school bus!) lined up to receive a hot breakfast
Food Security, Local Love and Vital Connections in the South Okanagan
Did you know that one in seven Canadians live in food insecure households? For families with children, that number is even higher. The COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating effect on people’s ability to feed themselves and their families due to increased unemployment, disrupted supply chains and growing food costs. Through
Your Local Love helps Jaime to have food on her table everyday
As a person with mental health issues and few family and friends around, Jaime was struggling financially. She often relied on the support of food banks and other community services to meet her basic needs. Living in isolation during the pandemic, Jaime’s mental health declined greatly and accessing the supports she
Toddler was able to develop gross motor and cognitive skills, thanks to you
With over 50% of single parents living in poverty and spending more than 30% of their household income on housing, Sarah is not alone in her struggle to support her three young children both financially and emotionally. Her youngest, Ben, is a toddler who needed extra support for his social and
United Way delivers child safety and wellness items for families across the Southern Interior
215 car seats and 50 baby care packages were delivered to 45 distribution hubs Kelowna, BC – In response to the growing need for child safety and wellness items further exacerbated by the pandemic, United Way's community partners from across the region have once again stepped up for this year's United
Seven Charities Building a Regenerative Economy to Receive a Boost with United Way’s Sustainable Recovery Grant
Seven Southern Interior BC (Okanagan) charities have been selected to receive the Sustainable Recovery Grant; a one-time grant funding participation in a customized coaching and supportive program that helps charities build financial resilience, enhance impact, and develop leadership skills. We are excited to announce the 2021 recipients of the Sustainable Recovery
Demand for community and social services surges due to pandemic
Sustainable Recovery Grant applications announced for local charities May 3, 2021 - United Way and local partners announce this week the Sustainable Recovery Grant (SRG) call for applications in direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The grants will provide entrepreneurial coaching to charities to help them build sustainability and resilience in
70th Anniversary year comes to a close
A Message from Kahir March 31, 2021 Dear Friends and Neighbours, Wow, what a year it has been. United Way, as a movement, has always been a champion of community collaboration, and our past year has been no different. The past 12 months has been one of the most challenging ones
Celebrate 211 Day on February 11th
An inaugural pan Canadian 211 Day February 11th is 211 Day across North America! This year, for the first time, anyone living anywhere in Canada can pick up the phone and dial 2-1-1 to reach a Service Navigator for information on community-based health, social and government services in or near their
United Way SIBC invests $1.9M for COVID Relief this year
Over 90 local charities receive grants for recovery efforts December 7, 2020 – Today, United Way British Columbia (SIBC) is pleased to announce another round of COVID Relief funding that will see another 33 programs receive over $436,000 in the coming weeks. This was funded in part by the Government of
United Way Canada launches interactive map showing ECSF grants across Canada
Tuesday, September 15, 2020 – The national network of local United Way Centraides, in partnership with United Way Centraide Canada (UWCC), have disbursed more than $95M through the Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF). The ECSF was created in response to the sudden and critical need for community services during the COVID-19
In the News: Grant to provide hot meals for Penticton seniors
Meals will be served twice a week at the Penticton Seniors’ Drop-In Centre Shown above: Past president Don Wilson of the board of the Penticton Seniors’ Drop-In Centre stirs the soup at the seniors centre. A $14,705 grant from the Government of Canada Emergency Community Support Fund administered by the United
United Way British Columbia invests $1.3M for COVID Relief
90+ local charities impacted by response and recovery efforts August 18, 2020 – Today, United Way British Columbia is pleased to announce that over $1.3M has been invested in 90+ charities throughout our region to support people who have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Several granting streams have been rolled out
United Way and local partners announce Sustainable Recovery Grant recipients
July 13, 2020 – United Way British Columbia (SIBC) announced today the recipients of a new grant stream designed to address the emerging and sustainability needs of charities dealing with COVID-19. United Way partnered with Interior Savings Credit Union, the Community Foundations of the North and South Okanagan, and Valley First,
RDCO, United Way and other local partners team up to tackle poverty
Grant Advances Regional Wellness & Poverty Reduction Strategy June 23, 2020 A grant from the Union of BC Municipalities Poverty Reduction Planning and Action Program will be used in the development of regional wellness and poverty strategy for the Central Okanagan. The $149,000 grant awarded to the Regional District of Central
Local Youth-led programs receive funding
June 18, 2020 – This spring, the Central Okanagan Foundation and United Way’s GenNext contributed $6,000 to support three youth led projects based in the Central Okanagan. These grants are available to young people up to age 25 who are partnering with an organization to create positive change in their local
United Way invests in seniors-related programs in the Southern Interior
New Horizons for Seniors Program impacts 26 local charities Kelowna, BC (June 2, 2020) - In our region, approximately 20% of seniors live in poverty or isolation and are at greater risk of poor health outcomes due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. With that and other vulnerable populations in mind, the
Seniors Week 2020: Celebrating Community Resilience during COVID-19
Across our region and beyond, the Safe Seniors, Strong Communities initiative - a unique collaboration between the United Way Better at Home program, bc211 and the B.C Ministry of Health - mobilized over 8,500 local volunteers from across the province, providing vital support needed by isolated seniors in their neighbourhoods and
Neighbours complete 90,000+ volunteer acts for vulnerable seniors during COVID-19
As Seniors Week is recognized across Canada, over 8,500 B.C. volunteers step up to help isolated neighbours MEDIA RELEASE June 1, 2020 (Vancouver, B.C.) - Over 8,500 local volunteers from across the province are helping out isolated seniors in their neighbourhoods and communities during the global pandemic. At the end of
United Way and Foundations invest over $300K in relief funds for local charities
May 28, 2020 - A partnership between the Central Okanagan Foundation (COF), the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen (CFSOS), the Community Foundation of the North Okanagan, and United Way British Columbia (UWBC ), has granted over $300,000 to 35 projects and programs directly dealing with the COVID-19 crisis. Valley
United Way launches federal Emergency Community Support Fund
Government of Canada funding for social sector accepting applications until June 26 Kelowna, BC (May 19, 2020) - United Way British Columbia (SIBC) announced today the launch of the funding applications for the Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF). The fund provides financial support to local non-profits adapting their frontline services to
In the News – PPE Day of Caring for local Charities
Castanet - May 13, 2020 PPE for beloved charities Black Press Media - May 14, 2020 United Way provides PPE to Okanagan charities The organization hosted their Day of Caring at Kelowna’s Ramada
New COVID-19 Grant Stream to Focus on Sustainability and Resilience for Charities
May 12, 2020 - In response to COVID-19, the Sustainable Recovery Grant is available to support sustainability and resilience for the charitable sector. This collaborative partnership, led by United Way, will fund entrepreneurial coaching and support for charities, focused on building sustainability in four key areas: revenue, operations, people and impact.
In the News: Safe Seniors, Strong Communities launched
Helping isolated seniors stay connected and cared for during COVID-19 March 26, 2020 (Vancouver, B.C.) - Seniors will be able to receive the support they need during the COVID-19 crisis through a new province-wide initiative, Safe Seniors, Strong Communities. Seniors can request volunteer help with grocery shopping, meal prep and prescription pick-up