Kelowna Gospel Mission’s Destroyed Van Generously Replaced

In a genuine show of community support, local businesses in Kelowna rallied together to lend a helping hand to Kelowna’s Gospel Mission after their community outreach van was severely damaged in a fire.

As the van is vital to a variety of Gospel Mission operations, Executive Director for Kelowna Gospel Mission Randy Benson said their organization felt the loss of their vehicle within days.

Photo credit: KelownaNow.

Hearing about the destroyed van, local business Orchard Ford donated a gently used van to Kelowna Gospel Mission on Thursday. The donated van will allow Kelowna Gospel Mission to continue with their outreach work in the community.

“This is great,” said Benson “Orchard Ford called us within a couple of days and said we’ve got a van for you. It was just a real answer to prayer and it meets an incredible need for us. We’re very excited.”

Photo credit: KelownaNow.

Transportation is necessary to connect the community and bring vital services to those in need. Assisting those in the Kelowna community who have or are suffering from chronic homelessness, outreach workers are out in the community every morning to find and engage with people who are living or spent the night on the streets.

Photo credit: KelownaNow.

In a conversation with Sales Manager, Mario Curatolo from Orchard Ford, he said dealership owner Dan Assam wanted to give back to the community and support the efforts of Kelowna Gospel Mission.

At Orchard Ford, the idea is to build up the community and create opportunities for all of our citizens.

“You’re making it a better community by helping out,” added Curatolo.

The folks at Big Steel Box Kelowna were also happy to help out by donating storage containers to Kelowna Gospel Mission. The Kelowna Gospel Mission had to find additional storage space after the fire damaged the roof of their previous storage building.

“We want to be a part of the community, and dire situations like this are a good example for us to help out where we can,” said Mike Wilson, Store Manager from Kelowna Big Steel Box.