The most important meal of the day will be even more so on the morning of Sept. 10.
From 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. the main entrance of the Penticton Lakeside Resort will once again be transformed into a huge drive thru for the kickoff of the United Way of the Central and South Okanagan campaign.
“The Penticton environment is growing and the first two breakfasts have been great awareness campaigns and it just feels like the momentum is building,” said Shelley Gilmore, Executive Director for United Way CSO who hopes to top the $15,000 raised at last year’s event. “The United Way is very much a community builder, from the businesses to the front line service providers to the clients they serve and the general population in the middle.
“The agencies require the funding to keep the lights on and offer the services but at the end of the day if we can build empathy and compassion, we build a stronger, healthier community.”
For a donation, in addition to a hearty meal, a coffee and a newspaper, drive thru guests will receive one of 850 special breakfast bags containing items valued at over $100. As an added incentive to get people to come in, some of the bags will contain hidden grand prizes for the lucky recipients.
“The support from local businesses and volunteers has been overwhelming,” said Jennifer Park, United Way director of resource development “I am proud to live in a community that rallies together to support non-profits and vulnerable persons.”
Handing out the bags and breakfasts will be a number of VIP’s from the community. In addition to the kickoff to the fundraising and awareness campaign on the day of the breakfast, United Way officials will also announce the overall goal and details of other activities including those of the Day Caring program which began in 2014.
“Our community’s success depends on all of us. We all win when a child succeeds in school, when families are financially stable and have the resources they need,” said Gilmore. “Success is accomplished when everyone works together toward a common goal. As the United Way CSO, our story is your story, we can all rally behind that.”