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Okanagan Spirits feeds homeless through Black Friday sales

Black Friday weekend pays it forward with meals for missions in Vernon and Kelowna
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A local business is turning Black Friday into a weekend of giving and paying it forward to those most in need.

Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery in Vernon and Kelowna kicks off the annual Holiday Hot Meals campaign Nov. 23, where the distillery donates three hot meals for every spirit advent calendar, or full-size bottle sold.

Funds for meals are delivered to the Upper Room Mission in Vernon and the Kelowna Gospel Mission.

The local, family run distillery started this charitable initiative in 2019 in an effort to give back to members in their local communities who they felt could use a bit of a lift during the holiday season.

The campaign is now in its fifth year, and is continuing to grow thanks to the tremendous “buy local” movement which is alive and well in the Okanagan Valley.

“We launch this campaign each year on Black Friday weekend to put a different kind of twist on the usual mad consumerism that is wrapped up in that day and the whole holiday spending push,” said Tyler Dyck, CEO. “It’s really quite simple; we pay it forward by donating on behalf of those who wish to treat those on their holiday shopping list to a fine whisky, gin or vodka, or even that perfect holiday spirits advent calendar, but also like to know that their purchase goes towards making the holidays a little bit nicer for those that are less fortunate.”

Over the last few years, thanks to the support of good-hearted fine spirits lovers throughout the Okanagan, the distillery has been able to donate the funds to provide thousands of hot meals to the local Missions in each of the communities where their distilleries operate.

READ MORE: Santa’s workshop collecting donations in Enderby for Christmas sale

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Jennifer Smith

About the Author: Jennifer Smith

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