Get the Top, Local stories delivered to your inbox! Click here to join the daily Vernon Matters newsletter.
By Pete McIntyre

Giving Back campaign provides cars for COVID-impacted families

Apr 1, 2020 | 11:37 AM

A local auto dealership is doing its part to help residents recover from the Covid outbreak.

Bannister Honda in Vernon has launched the Giving Back Campaign where over the next two months, two families who have been negatively impacted by the crisis will receive a free pre-owned vehicle, a Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla.

Nominations will be accepted at bannisterhonda.com/givingback, and on the 26th of April and May, a panel of staff members at Bannister Honda will choose one of the finalists.

“This is no joke,” said Pat Loehndorf, general manager and partner of Bannister Honda. “We have two clean, reliable, vehicles to give away to two families that need a little help, and we’re looking to the community to tell us who we should give them to.”

Loehndorf said both vehicles have been given a clean bill of health from their award-winning service department, and have been detailed and touched up by Bannister All-Makes Collision and Glass.

Non-Market Housing Opportunities
City of Vernon looking at federal, provincial land for new housing
8h ago
Serious Injuries
GoFundMe launched in support of motorcycle accident victim
14h ago
Concept Plan
City council endorses passive park plan for Kin Race Track lands
Apr 27, 2026

“We know that many are dealing with a lot of sources of stress right now. We’re going to make sure that, for two families in our area, reliable transportation isn’t one of them. We truly believe that we should give back more than we take from our community,” stated Loehndorf.

“As a community, it’s important we help each other wherever possible” said Jack Decaire, sales manager. “I’m proud that we’re able to affect some positive change in the lives of several families that have been affected by this crisis.”

Click here to make a nomination or get more details.

by Pete McIntyre
View Comments

Other Matters

Non-Market Housing Opportunities
City of Vernon looking at federal, provincial land for new housing
The City of Vernon has identified some land owned by senior levels of government that could be used for new non-market housing.Vernon's Non-Market Housing Land Task Force (NHLTF) was tasked with finding property within the municipality that could be used for supporting or affordable housing, and found four properties t...
8h ago
Read More
Day of Mourning
Ceremony pays tribute to North Okanagan, B.C. workers who passed away
A National Day of Mourning event was held outside Vernon City Hall Tuesday.The event was held to honour the workers who fell ill, were injured, or lost their lives due to workplace incidents."In 2025, workplace injuries and illnesses claimed the lives of 138 workers in B.C.," Justin Comeau, a Prevention Offic...
11h ago
Read More
Road Awareness
BC Highway Patrol ramps up enforcement for May safety campaign
Drivers across B.C. can expect increased police enforcement in May as the BC Highway Patrol launches its annual High-Risk Driving and Motorcycle Awareness campaign.Officers will be targeting speeding, impaired, distracted and aggressive driving as traffic volumes rise with warmer weather."There are two keys to kee...
13h ago
Read More
Serious Injuries
GoFundMe launched in support of motorcycle accident victim
An online fundraiser has been launched to support a local man involved in a motorcycle crash.The GoFundMe for Stacey Winters says the man was involved in a "devastating motorcycle accident" on April 21 when he suffered serious injuries. As of the latest update he was in critical condition at the Intensive Car...
14h ago
Read More
Business Expansion Opportunity
New industrial park being developed in Lumby
North Okanagan businesses are getting a new opportunity to expand their operations.The Village of Lumby said it was developing the new Lumby Industrial Park.Located along Highway 6, the 16-acre, five-lot site will be suitable for a range of industrial, manufacturing, logistics, forestry and agricultural operations, all...
14h ago
Read More
High-tech Rescue
AirTag helps rescuers track down missing kittens in East Kelowna
Call it a high-tech rescue.A mother cat and her newborn kittens are safe and recovering after rescuers in the Okanagan used an AirTag to track down the hidden litter in a forested area of East Kelowna.The Okanagan Humane Society says a pregnant stray cat was first spotted on April 15, prompting a search effort by a loc...
14h ago
Read More
Ride Don't Hide
Registration open for mental health cycling event
People will be strapping on their helmets and hitting the road on their bikes in support of youth mental health.The Vernon and District branch of the Canada Mental Health Association (CMHA Vernon) will hold its Ride Don't Hide event June 7.It will see participating riders cycle one of five routes spanning four to 50 ki...
Apr 28, 2026
Read More
Conservation
Stage 2 water restrictions in West K
Water restrictions remain in place for West Kelowna because of the low snowpack, which has already melted off in most of the watershed, according to officials.Stage 2 regulations mean even-numbered addresses can water on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Odd-numbered addresses water on Wednesdays and Sundays.Automatic sprinkler ...
Apr 27, 2026
Read More
Advocacy
Local atheist group call for Census action
A local organization is calling on the public to formally report if they are not religious in the upcoming 2026 Census.The Kelowna Atheists, Skeptics and Humanists Association (KASHA), is launching a national campaign urging Canadians to accurately report "no religion".The Census form asks for respondents to ...
Apr 27, 2026
Read More

What Matters

Non-Market Housing Opportunities
City of Vernon looking at federal, provincial land for new housing
8h ago
Serious Injuries
GoFundMe launched in support of motorcycle accident victim
14h ago
Concept Plan
City council endorses passive park plan for Kin Race Track lands
Apr 27, 2026
Creek Naturalization
Vernon Creek Naturalization project completed
Apr 27, 2026
12 hectare blaze
Wildfire near Chase controlled
Apr 26, 2026