”Our hearts are full and we feel so incredibly fortunate to live in such a caring community,” said Penticton Provides organizers who have seen an amazing amount of donations come in during the first week of their food and toy campaign.
“One day in, and we have once again seen how Penticton routinely supports those in need,” said Pen High vice-principal Bo Boxall.
During the first week of the campaign, they have put a focus on collecting food for the Salvation Army Food Bank, already collecting near 5,000 items.
”We are just shy of being halfway to our goal. We encourage the community to continue to use the drop-off locations throughout our community,” said Boxall.
The goal this year will be to collect 1,000 gifts and 10,000 food items while also collecting $20,000 which will be spent within this community.
For the past 25 years, Pen High and Maggie Secondary students have organized the 10,000 Tonight food drive and the Toys for Tots to Teens. For everyone’s health safety, they had to cancel the events and pivot to save the important fundraisers. The student leaders and high school staff came up with the bigger Penticton Provides campaign which runs from Nov. 26 to Dec. 10.
https://youtu.be/fNUBenWNIDA
Students, families, and staff at Wiltse Elementary came together to collect 524 non-perishable food items. Other elementary schools have also collected hundreds of food items for Penticton Provides.
Route97 Rentals handed over a $500 cheque this week. Normally, the local camping rental company is a big part of the fundraisers by providing trucks for transporting food and toys.
Numerous businesses have been getting on board, collecting food items and making cash donations.
Penticton Salvation Army is grateful for the high school students’ work and contribution to helping Penticton’s most vulnerable.
“The need is greater than ever, and we are seeing new people on a daily basis,” said Salvation Army’s John Rankin.
“10,000 Tonight is an amazing food drive led by students who coordinate advertising, drop-offs, counting and sorting, and delivery to the food bank (in years past).
“Their efforts are so much appreciated every year and we are hoping the supplies last into spring.”
There are multiple locations to drop off food and toys including Penticton Secondary and Princess Margaret Secondary as well as the elementary and middle school locations in our city.
Also accepting donations are Save-On-Foods, Safeway, Walmart, Superstore and IGA. There is also an option to donate online at the Penticton Provides website.
You can donate online here.
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