“We believe every child should have access to a regular, nutritious diet,” Mary Jackson, President of the [Kalamalka Starfish] Society, said. Read the full article below:
Food insecurity appears to be growing in the North Okanagan as the Kalamalka Starfish Society continues to see an increased demand for free meal kits.
The group says funding is critical to ensure students continue to have access to Starfish Bags that provide food insecure elementary and middle school students with a weekend food kit:
The Starfish program provides 240 weekend bags of food to 20 elementary, middle and alternate schools in the North Okanagan. The food bags are a lifeline for students living in a state of food insecurity, providing them with two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners, snacks, veggies and fruit over the weekends.
But the problem of food insecurity doesn’t go away when school is out for the summer:
The fifth annual Stand Up For challenge saw boarders paddle the 18-kilometre length of Kalamalka Lake to raise money. The event took place September 3rd and surpassed its $24,000 goal even before participants hit the water.
When all was said and done, they had raised $31,110 raised for Kalamalka Starfish Pack. The funds will provide backpacks full of food each weekend to 50 children for the entire school year.
Members of Vernon’s RCMP detachment have chipped in to support the local Starfish meal program for hungry kids.
The Roster Sports Club and Grill’s Dish Out the Kindness fundraiser raised $5,000 that will be split between the Upper Room Mission and Kalamalka Starfish Pack Program.
Children in Vernon won’t have to worry about going hungry thanks to Kal Rotary’s Starfish Pack Program continuing during Covid-19.
Vernon Starfish received a donation of almost $6000 from The Great West Equipment’s Christmas Silent Auction. Because of this, 11 children in Vernon will be fed for the year!
To hear the whole story Read Here
To see a video about the Starfish Program in Vernon Click Here
Learn what Vernon is doing in local schools through the Starfish Pack Program Read More