The current home for the Lake Country Food Bank could be sold at any time as it is up for sale by the Central Okanagan School District and volunteers trying to raise money for a new home say the public’s chance to help is here.
The food bank currently operates out of two small rooms – less than 800-square-feet of space – in the basement of the former Winfield Elementary School serving some 600 Lake Country residents every month.
It has long needed a new home and for three years the Lake Country Rotary Club has investigated every possible location that the food bank could move to — residential houses, office buildings, rental space in malls and more.
But the campaign is focused on a new building that remains $150,000 dollars short of being able to start construction. Residents are able to help by voting in a unique contest that could raise as much as $100,000 for the new building.
The food bank has applied for a $100,000 grant from the Aviva Fund. Every year, Aviva Insurance donates $1 million to worthy community projects, based on a competition for on-line voters. Community support in October put the Lake Country Food Bank into the semi-final round of voting, which started Dec. 1.
In the previous round, 800 people voted – but most voted only once. Competition will be more intense in the semi-final round of voting. To win $100,000, the food bank will need every supporter to vote every day for 10 days.
Although the Rotary Club has taken a lead in organizing this fund-raising campaign, this is a community project, not just a Rotary project. Everyone needs to get involved by voting.
Voting is easy. Go to www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf19456, register and then vote every day.
Also, by sending your e-mail address to newhomeforthefoodbank@gmail.com, you can receive an e-mail reminder to vote daily.
If Lake Country could earn the $100,000 construction of the new building could start next spring.
