The United Way launched its campaign on Thursday morning with a fundraising breakfast at the Coast Hotel and Conference Centre (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN

United Way fundraising breakfast focuses on Four Directions program, community support in transition year

Sep 19, 2019 | 10:58 AM

KAMLOOPS — In a year of transition, as the United Way moves into the Xchange on Tranquille Road, the non-profit hasn’t set specific fundraising targets for this year’s campaign.

The United Way is focusing some of its attention this year on helping students affected by the Parkcrest fire. One of the cheques it received during its campaign launch on Thursday was a $2,100 cheque from the BC Interior Community Foundation to support the Four Directions program. Its students were displaced by the Parkcrest fire and are now at United Way’s new home.

“Today, we were raising some funds in our solo cups to see if we could upgrade some of the aging equipment in the Four Directions program and after school program,” said United Way TNC executive director Danalee Baker. “So BC Interior Community Foundation, they kicked it off with a $2,100 cheque. We’re really excited to put that to use.”

The other cheque was a $25,000 donation from Kamloops Daybreak Rotary for the Starfish Backpack program that operates out of the Kamloops Food Bank.

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While this year’s campaign doesn’t have a fundraising goal, its focus is encourage people to step up and help the community in any way they can.

“There’s always something we need to be responsive to,” said campaign cabinet chair Christine Nickel. “Our role as a cabinet is to get behind whatever the directive is from the United Way. If that’s responding to helping find a place for students after the Parkcrest school burned down, we’re going to help to do that.”

School District 73 was recognized on Thursday morning as the Largest Impact Award with its work to provide some students with the food they need.

“The recipients of this award are truly our children,” said SD73 superintendent Alison Sidow. “Those who need food for the weekend are at the heart of this campaign. I can’t say enough about the work of the United Way.”

The district also appreciates the focus on Four Directions.

“Again, I just can’t say enough about the United Way, who have taken in our Four Directions students, and not only made them feel at home but enhanced their experience by providing funds today so that they have new furniture and can really feel like the valued members of this community that they are,” noted Sidow.

As the United Way settles into its new home on Tranquille, funds from this year’s campaign are that much more important.

“We’ve been through a lot. Financial restructuring and moving towards a new way of doing business,” noted Baker. “It’s been exhilarating but exhausting, and we just appreciate and need the support of the community more than ever.”