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‘Community always steps up’ at Penticton’s JCI Valley Food Drive

Donations will go to the Ooknakane Friendship Centre
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Kriss Campbell, left, and Stuart Knott from JCI Penticton outside Cherry Lane Shopping Centre during the annual Valley Food Drive on Saturday, May 25, 2024. (Logan Lockhart/Western News Staff)

Dozens of cars were seen driving through the Cherry Lane Shopping Centre parking lot on Saturday, May 25, as Junior Chamber International (JCI) Penticton collected donations for its annual food drive.

The event returned at 10 a.m., with 100 per cent of cash and non-perishable food donations set to go to the Pentiction-based Ooknakane Friendship Centre.

By 11:30 a.m., volunteers already helped raise more than $200.

“The community always seems to step up,” said Kriss Campbell, chair of JCI Valley Food Drive. “We decided to go with [Ooknakane Friendship Centre] this year to spread the love. We try to help as many different groups as we can.”

JCI partnered with local business Total Restoration to provide bins and transport donations.

Hundreds of pounds of food are usually collected during the annual event.

Inside the food drive tents this year, volunteers were selling popcorn by donation and grilling food to rally up support.

“First thing this morning, we already had a bunch of people drop off food bags,” Campbell said. “It was really nice to see.”

Final donation numbers are expected to be released by the beginning of next week.

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Logan Lockhart

About the Author: Logan Lockhart

I joined Black Press Media in 2021 after graduating from a pair of Toronto post-secondary institutions and working as a sports reporter for several different outlets.
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