From tea parties and lemonade stands, to matching customer donations, local residents and businesses are getting creative in raising funds for the Okanagan Rail Trail.
At Klub Kal in Oyama, eight-year-old Taylor Denomme has raised more than $60 for trail development by selling lemonade.
Cycle shops in Vernon, Lake Country and Kelowna are selling rail trail T-shirts for $30, with $20 going to trail fundraising.
“The T-shirts are flying off the shelves, and I have had to make another order,” said Patti Sewell, of Lake Country Cycle.
On Aug. 19 and 20, Nature’s Fare in Vernon and Kelowna will receive and match donations (up to $10,000 total) from customers who visit the stores those two days.
So far, close to 1,400 people have donated money, 20 businesses are providing in-kind products and services to support the campaign, and nine organizations or businesses have become campaign partners to hold fundraising events, or help spread the word.
The goal is to raise $7.8 million to construct the trail from Coldstream to Kelowna.
“Although people are busy enjoying summer travel and activities, they are not forgetting about what the rail trail would mean for our future Okanagan lifestyle,” said Duane Thomson, with the Okanagan Rail Trail Initiative.
To donate, go to cfno.org or okanaganrailtrail.ca
