Wineries band together to provide ‘HOPE’

Following the closure of tasting rooms, Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country has launched the HOPE Fund (Helping Our People Eat), which will support up to 200 family meals per week for members of the region’s hurting hospitality industry, who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19.

In partnership with Oliver-based deli Oliver Eats Ltd., the fund will help them to produce fresh and frozen family meals that will support those that are usually employed by wineries, restaurants and other hospitality businesses in Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country (McIntyre Bluff to the Border) but are out of work due to the pandemic.

“We are confident of recovery in our region but we know that it rests on the reassurance that our hospitality workers will still be here, when that happens,” said Jennifer Busmann, executive director of Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country. “Our HOPE Fund is fueled by our 44 member wineries, with additional funds contributed by our organization, along with some generous donations and the support of the incredible team at Oliver Eats Ltd.; together we wanted to ensure that when we open our doors to welcome visitors, our community and industry will be ready and smiling.”

The organization’s member wineries range from some of the largest winemaking brands in the Okanagan Valley to small, independent family run estates. All are donating to this cause in a unified offering of support to the people that help make this area so special.