$100K donated to West Kelowna Salvation Army to support wildfire relief efforts

The Central Okanagan Foundation raised a few thousand dollars for the Westside Salvation Army for wildfire relief efforts.

During the McDougall Creek wildfire, the Salvation Army was one of the organizations to step up to support evacuees and volunteers.

A whopping $100,000 was raised for the Salvation Army.

“The impact being felt by dozens of households is life-altering,” says Jennifer Henson with the organization.

“Many households are discovering their new normal while rebuilding their lives post-fire, and we are here to support them on that journey. Thanks to the generosity of the Central Okanagan Foundation, we will continue to support households in very practical ways, one of the most important being finances to secure housing rentals, because the homes they once had are now gone.”

The organization served over 14,000 snacks and meals to evacuees and first responders during the McDougall Creek wildfire.

In addition to providing food and drinks at the West Kelowna resiliency centre, volunteers also provided spiritual and emotional care and help with things such as gas, clothing and personal care items.

Although the fire is now being held, the Salvation Army still has a caseworker on site at the Resiliency Centre to meet people in need of help.

The organizaiton is also issuing relief grants to help with rent and housing supports, food, transportation and clothing for those who lost their homes in the fire.

“The disruption to residents' lives due to the wildfire is significant and donations like this will help to address gaps and provide some reassurance to community members that are particularly vulnerable,” said Steve Schell, the recovery manager at the Resiliency Centre.

“The Resiliency Centre team is grateful for the generous support of donors to the Central Okanagan Foundation’s 2023 Wildfire Response Fund and The Salvation Army.”