Generous land donation boosts Okanagan food charity | 24CA News
It’s a big, centrally positioned farm property in East Kelowna value a whole bunch of 1000’s if not thousands and thousands of {dollars}.
Instead of cashing in on the land, although, the proprietor has donated it to an Okanagan meals charity.
The main donation is predicted to assist enhance the Okanagan Fruit Tree Project’s operations.
The charity was pleasantly stunned in 2021 when the property proprietor donated a 36-acre farm to the Okanagan Fruit Tree Project.
“[The donor] basically wants the land to be used for community benefit,” defined Okanagan Fruit Tree Project program supervisor Lucie Bardos.
“She contributed quite a lot through her farming efforts to the community and she was getting on in age so she just wanted to pass it on to a project who would carry on her vision.”
The native society is greatest recognized for a meals rescue program that sees volunteers choose fruit that may in any other case go to waste.
That produce is then donated to native social service businesses or taken house by volunteers.
Read extra:
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“Some of the folks that come to volunteer with us might be also experiencing food insecurity and so by coming out to volunteer and taking food home they get to access food in a stigma free, dignified way and that’s something that we really value,” mentioned Bardos.
The farmland is a giant deal for the charity as it can lastly give their operations a everlasting house base and this 12 months would be the group’s first time cultivating the donated property.
“All of the produce that gets grown gets donated back to the community, so whether it goes home with volunteers or it goes to a social service agency or to a local school it always goes to supporting food programs in the community,” mentioned Bardos.
During the summer season the Okanagan Fruit Tree Project donates produce to the John Howard Society shelter and supportive housing websites.
“People get access to fresh fruit that they might not be able to afford otherwise,” mentioned Hailee Rogers John Howard Society’s performing director of shelter companies.
The undeniable fact that the Okanagan Fruit Tree Project is ready to broaden is welcome news to Rogers.
“Equitable access to food and food security is really important for people who are homeless all the way up to people that are just in poverty,” mentioned Rogers.
“I think the ability to be able to do more of that is better for everyone.”
Back on the farm, the Okanagan Fruit Tree Project is wanting ahead to the upcoming season and fundraising to assist pay for his or her programming and farm startup prices.
The charity is amassing donations through its web site.
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