Laurie Case of Turning Points Society, Lisa Deargle of Community Foundation North Okanagan and Kody Woodmass of Turning Points Society at the Community Foundation’s annual grants reception. (Photo courtesy of CFNO)

By Liam Verster

$332,000

Local charities get boost from CFNO grants

Jun 12, 2024 | 4:30 PM

Community Futures North Okanagan (CFNO) has provided hundreds-of-thousands of dollars to area charities and organizations.

The CFNO’s annual spring Smart and Caring Community Grants Program saw a total of $332,000 go to support various community initiatives run by 48 charities.

Though all the groups have different programs and serve different individuals, many of them addressed a common theme of food security.

The Vernon and District branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA Vernon) is one of the recipients, and will use its portion of the CFNO funds to launch two food security initiatives, a monthly class for adults to improve health eating habits on a limited budget, and providing food boxes for youth connected to their Youth Integrated Services Hub.

“Having basic needs met, such as sufficient access to healthy food, is a major contributing factor to an individual’s overall mental wellness,’ Julia Payson, the executive director of CMHA Vernon, stated.

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The Starfish Society, a group that provides weekend backpacks filled with food to students in need, is also receiving CFNO support.

“The need for these bags has doubled in the past two years, and in just four months, 50 volunteers sorted, packed and delivered more than 4,300 backpacks,” Mary Jackson, president of the Kalamalka Starfish Society, said.

“As we see the need for the backpacks grow, we realize that these children and families will need this support throughout the summer months too. This grant will support our summer pilot program to supply 800 backpacks. We will also partner with the SD22 food coordinator to host ‘Family Food Nights’ where we cook a meal together with a group of families.”

The other recipients and the programs the grants are supporting are:

Archway Society for Domestic Peace – North Okanagan Women’s Outreach & Empowerment
Athletics For Kids Financial Assistance (BC) Society – Sport4Life North Okanagan Program
Ballet Jorgen Canada – Vernon & Area Dance Programming- February 2025
Caetani Cultural Centre Society – Creative Reconciliation: Workshop Series
Cherryville Community Food & Resource Society – Cherryville Youth and Family Program
Community Dental Access Center – 2024/2025 Fiscal Program Funding
Community Recreational Initiatives Society – CRIS 2024 North Okanagan Programming
Enderby & District Community Resource Centre – Vehicle for Medical Transportation for Seniors
Family Resource Centre Society for the North Okanagan – Trauma-Informed Community Support
Fresh Outlook Foundation – 2025 Climate Action Ripple Effect (CARE)
Independent Living/John Rudy Health Resource Centre Association – Stronger Than You Think
inGIRLS Club Association – The Gift of Friendship – Celebrating and Connecting Girls with Disabilities in the North Okanagan
Interior Wildlife Rehabilitation Society – Threatened Wildlife Species Care
Junior Achievement of British Columbia – Boundless Possibilities for North Okanagan Youth
Kindale Developmental Association – Seaton Centre – Creating Spaces
Launch Financial Education Society – Dollars and Sense Financial Literacy training
Lumby Food Bank – Paws, Nourish and Nurture: Wellness Alliance to Preserve the Human-K9 Bond
Lumby Historical Society – My Life – An Oral History
Niteo Africa Society – Story As Community
Gallery Vertigo (North Okanagan Artist Alternative) – Capital Improvements
North Okanagan Friendship Centre Society – Vernon Safe House Grant Application
North Okanagan Youth and Family Services Society – NOYFSS Family Room Updates
Okanagan Humane Society – Rescue and Pet Assistance Program: Spay / Neuter Programs
Okanagan Indian Band – Drumming, the heartbeat of nk̓maplqs iʔ snm̓am̓ay̓aʔtn iʔ k̓l sqilxʷtət”
Okanagan Learning Foundation – Food for Thought
Okanagan Quality Life Society – The Heaven Can Wait Pontoon Boat Operation
Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship Society – Community-led Wetland & Riparian Restoration and Stewardship
O’Keefe Ranch & Interior Heritage Society – The Canning Kitchen Upgrade Project
People Place Society – Security Upgrade/Enterphone
Runaway Moon Theatre Arts Society – Looking Backward, Looking Forward
Santa’s Anonymous Society – Rent Increase Coverage
School District 22 – Voices of Vernon
Schubert Centre Society – Meals on Wheels Program
Special Olympics BC – Vernon – 2024 Sports Funding
Take a Hike Youth Mental Health Foundation – Take a Hike Vernon Program
The British Columbia Lions Society for Children with Disabilities – 2024 Winfield Summer Camp for Persons with Diverse Abilities
The Canadian Red Cross Society – 200 Accessibility Assist Bars
The Good Food Box Society of the North Okanagan – Good Food Box Sustainability and Succession Planning Project
Turning Points Collaborative Society – Turning Points Wellness Initiative
Upper Room Mission Society – Food Security Program
Vernon & District Association for Community Living – Diversabilities Behaviour Support Program
Vernon Community Music School – Family Jamboree Music Program
Vernon Public Art Gallery – School of Rawk
The Okanagan Science Centre – Exploring the World Through Sensory Science: Empowering Children’s Learning
Vernon She Shed Society – Smart & Caring Communities Grant March 2024
Whitevalley Community Resource Centre – Children/youth “Growth and Support” Groups