Revelstoke Credit Union and several other credit unions throughout BC and Ontario have been helping the Red Cross effort to raise funds in support of BC wildfire relief. Donations can be made https://www.revcu.com or the Canadian Red Cross -
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Canadian Red Cross - BC Southern Interior
Our Network:
The Canadian Red Cross Society is part of the largest humanitarian network in the world, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. This network include...
124 Adams rd
Kelowna, British Columbia
V1X 7R2
Health & Well-being
Human Rights
Philanthropy and Capacity Building
The Canadian Red Cross mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity in Canada and around the world.
Enliven Design + Consulting
Otter Co-op
Kelowna Capital News
Interior Savings
Artsy Phartsy/ Karis Support Society
United Way Southern Interior BC
Caring Rutland Secondary students, who were trained by the Canadian Red Cross, teach Springvalley Middle School students to combat bullying. 500 new students are trained each year to reach 40,000 other students across the province in their Beyond the Hurt program.
http://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/181000/Don-t-be-a-bystander
http://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/181000/Don-t-be-a-bystander
Kristian Oppenheim, Thanks for Doing Some Good!
What first inspired you to volunteer?
I have grown up with the mentality that 'the more you give, the more you have'. The concept of community members investing themselves into a good cause with nothing in return but self-fulfillment makes me feel proud of my community. I wanted to be a part of this supportive movement of volunteering and potentially inspire others to take part as well. Throughout my life, the community has provided me with many opportunities and chances that are absolutely invaluable. Through volunteering I can start giving back to my community and contribute to starting a new generation of volunteers.
Which cause are you most passionate about and why?
I am most passionate about the rehabillitation of damaged areas. Natural disasters such as droughts, floods, tsunamis, fires, earthquakes etc. have devastated millions of people. I believe that helping others in a time of need brings people closer together. Whether it is supporting those affected by the tsunami in Japan or the fire in Fort MacMurray, people are drawn together by supporting the same cause. I feel safer knowing that if anything were to happen to my community, there would be others to help support us in our time of need.
Which organization do you most commonly volunteer for?
I most commonly volunteer for the Canadian Red Cross. My favorite way to volunteer is to organize or take part in fundraising events. I trust the Red Cross to handle the money raised responsibly and deliver it with care. I am inspired and motivated by the events created through the Red Cross and the stories that are told of people who are helping. I feel honoured every time I support this foundation. Hearing about stories and events involving Red Cross truly make me believe that the more you give the more you have.
What does a typical volunteer shift look like for this organization?
Volunteer shifts (regarding fundraising) for the Red Cross are unique. They begin with becoming passionate about a cause, coming up with a fundraising idea and creating a team to support the cause with you. Regardless of the amount of money raised, people in need know they are being supported and community members are brought closer together. Red Cross also provides opportunities to travel and directly help those in need.
What impact have you seen volunteers make in the community?
Volunteers in my community have inspired those around them to become better community members and have forged a sense of unity. For example, the loyal volunteers at the local Central Okanagan Community Food Bank invest their time to help those in need, which creates a uniting bond between them and the rest of the community. Those who see this process, or take part in it, become incredibly moved and inspired by the positive, giving atmosphere. This, in turn, inspires those involved to spread the atmosphere around the community. This is one of many scenarios where volunteers have positively impacted and inspired the community.
What is the most memorable moment or experience you've had while volunteering?
During the OKM CAR SMASH fundraiser for Fort MacMurray (a Red Cross fundraiser supported by Interior Savings), I noticed a change in the atmosphere of our school. My peers were excited to arrive at school, positive conversations about the event happened everywhere and everyone wanted to support the cause together. The moment when I realized that my volunteering efforts effectively increased my schools spirit was my favorite volunteering moment.
What support does your organization currently need, and how can people learn more or get involved?
The organizations I support the most are Red Cross and the Food Bank. Both of these organizations rely heavily on volunteers. Thus, the best form of support for both of them is to have more volunteers get involved with them. They both have profiles on Volinspire and websites that emphasize their goals and importance and how you can get involved. I believe that the way to get more people involved is to have existing volunteers spread their experiences around the community and advertise how to get involved during community events.
Is there anyone else you would like to recognize that has helped support you to make a difference?
I would like to nominate Madelyn Miyashita for a volunteer spotlight.
Hanna Parker, Thanks for Doing Some Good!
What first inspired you to volunteer?
Honestly, I started volunteering only to complete the required hours for school, but I quickly realized that there was more to it than that. Volunteering has become something I enjoy and I like being able to say that I'm not just volunteering for school hours. The benefits of volunteering are tremendous, especially for a young high school student like myself.
Which cause are you most passionate about and why?
Education is one cause that I feel very passionate about because it is something that both myself and others have taken for granted. We as a society often forget that there are others who don't have the same opportunities as those in more economically developed countries. Education provides a platform for students that allows them to reach new places and gain new opportunities, and it's unfair that some people are denied this.
Which organization do you most commonly volunteer for?
I volunteer the most at Cottonwoods Care Centre as a Candy Striper.
What does a typical volunteer shift look like for this organization?
During a shift, I deliver water to the residents. I chat and spend time with them, which has resulted in bonds and friendly relationships with a couple of residents there. I help out the nurses if I can with small jobs and favours. It is a very friendly and flexible environment which teaches me about responsibility and I appreciate that. I get to meet and interact with interesting people that I normally wouldn't have the opportunity to. Life inside an assisted living facility is quite different, which was an eye-opener to me.
What impact have you seen volunteers make in the community?
Volunteering is a way for people to feel good about themselves. I have found that volunteers are generally very kind and positive people. This goes a long way in the community, because those who volunteer tend to spread their kindness and positivity to others around them, whether they are actively volunteering or not. A little commitment from volunteers can go a long way into helping those in need and creating a brighter future for those around us.
What is the most memorable moment or experience you've had while volunteering?
My best volunteering memories are from when I helped organize OKM's Car Smash for Fort McMurray. I was working with a great bunch of people, and we had tons of fun leading up to the event. On the day of our fundraising event, we rolled an Oldsmobile onto the back field and charged students to smash it to raise money for the families in Fort McMurray. The best part was when I got to destroy the side windows with a crowbar. Smashing an old car to smithereens felt awesome, and I highly recommend it as a stress reliever!
What support does your organization currently need, and how can people learn more or get involved?
I have volunteered for many organizations, yet all of them need one thing in common... More volunteers! There are very few organizations out there who can honestly say that they have more than enough volunteers; they are always on the lookout for bright and friendly people. The best way to get involved is to get online. I found that simply going onto the organization's website or checking out their profile on Volinspire will give me enough information to contact an organizer.
Is there anyone else you would like to recognize that has helped support you to make a difference?
Cottonwoods Care Centre and the Interior Health. I have given me the experience of working at a care facility, and volunteering there has helped open my eyes to new possibilities. I also want to say thank you to Volinspire and Interior Savings, because their help and support is what made the OKM Car Smash possible. Special shout out to my fellow Volinspire Amassadors - Madelyn Miyashita, Emma Van Demark, Kristian Oppenheim, Andrew Kates, Natalie Waynert. They helped raise over $7,000 from our event to support the Canadian Red Cross!
Youth these days blow my mind. I'm pretty amazed at how involved they are in our community. Andrew Kates is one of the students at OKM showing leadership when it comes to volunteering and I'm super proud to see his story being shared this week on the K96 Salute and via Castanet - http://www.castanet.net/news/Get-Involved/171295/Inspired-to-help-out Andrew has helped out the Central Okanagan Community Food Bank and Canadian Red Cross with support from Interior Savings
Andrew Kates, Thanks for Doing Some Good!
What first inspired you to volunteer?
Volunteering has always been an interest of mine. Anthony J. D'Angelo once said, “Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community." I can identify with this way of thinking, as I believe that we, as individuals in a community, have a responsibility to care for it, and therefore maintain it. Initially, I was inspired to volunteer at the Central Okanagan Community Food Bank, as I was interested in a program which allowed me to directly give back to the community, or more importantly, to those in need. The ability to experience direct contact with those who I had helped felt truly gratifying, and personally seeing the necessity of volunteering and helping others reinforced my belief in stepping forward for one's community. Seeing the impact of the organization and its volunteers inspired me to seek out new and more volunteering positions, as I hoped to be part of an impact on the community in other capacities as well.
Which cause are you most passionate about and why?
It is hard to pick a single cause that I am most passionate about, because I consider all of them important. However, I particularly believe in helping to curtail poverty. Serving in the Food Bank has demonstrated to me the importance of helping those who are financially less fortunate. Their serious dependence on the meals that are offered to them, and their positivity and gratefulness, illustrated for me a clear picture of why poverty is an issue which we need to tackle. If we don't help these people, we may never see the great value that some could bring to making our world a better place.
Which organization do you most commonly volunteer for?
Presently, I spend a lot of my time volunteering for the Okanagan Taneda Karate Dojo, a martial arts school for youth and adults located across the valley.
What does a typical volunteer shift look like for this organization?
Currently, I volunteer as a senpai, or a teacher, at the local Karate dojo. During each junior class, I serve as an instructor for an hour and a half. This includes leading the junior karate members through warm-ups and basic excercises. For the rest of the class, I continue to help coach the young students and help them improve their technique, their kumite (competitve freestyle fighting), and their katas (choreographed karate). During these classes, I participate alongside the children in games, cultivating relationships with them. Finally, I help to record attendance and set up and tear down equipment once class has finished. It is very rewarding, as I am able to see the long term progress of the kids over months, getting to experience the childrens' results from my efforts in real time.
What impact have you seen volunteers make in the community?
The impact made by volunteers in the community is huge. A lot of the causes I believe in - and volunteer for - would not be possible without the commitment and hard work of these volunteers. They love to work with each other, for the community, and for the benefit of others. I've seen the efforts of volunteers first hand when I was helping to organize a car smash fundraiser for Fort McMurray. They made the event entirely possible, as it was organized, marketed, and run as a result in part of these volunteers.
What is the most memorable moment or experience you've had while volunteering?
A few months ago during school, a group of students and I organized and ran a fundraiser event for the Fort McMurray wildfire. We brought in a car to the backyard area of our school during lunches, and our classmates would smash up the car to raise money. It was an awesome experience, and I'll never forget seeing my vice principle smashing the car to smithereens with a sledgehammer! Being able to support those affected by the wildfire was amazing, but seeing the school coming together at this event - being able to engage each student and have them invest in our school's spirit - was unexpected, and felt very rewarding.
What support does your organization currently need, and how can people learn more or get involved?
The Okanagan Mission Secondary school Car Smash helped to raise funds for the Canadian Red Cross in support of Fort McMurray. Currently, those who've been afflicted by the fire can still need help. Donations to Red Cross for Fort McMurray can be made on their site at http://www.redcross.ca/, as well as other info on how to help out for the cause. We will be holding the car smash event again next year, most likely May/June, and will be selling the chance to smash a car for charitable causes.
Is there anyone else you would like to recognize that has helped support you to make a difference?
Central Okanagan Community Food Bank has had a huge impact on the community and has given me a tremendous volunteering opportunity. Our car smash event couldn't have happened without Interior Savings, a great company that has played a huge part in helping the volunteering team from Volinspire which I am proud to be a part of.
Happy Canada Day! Two inspiring Kelowna residents awarded medals by Christy Clark for their volunteerism at Canada Day Celebration at Prospera Place.
https://www.kelownanow.com/watercooler/news/news/Kelowna/16/07/01/Prestigious_citizenship_medals_awarded_to_2_people_in_Kelowna/
Canadian Red Cross Prospera Credit Union
https://www.kelownanow.com/watercooler/news/news/Kelowna/16/07/01/Prestigious_citizenship_medals_awarded_to_2_people_in_Kelowna/
Canadian Red Cross Prospera Credit Union
Together this inspiring group of students from OKM, Interior Savings, and Volinspire raised a total of $7,637 to donate to the Canadian Red Cross in support of those effected by the Alberta Wildfires. #teamvolinspire #ymmfire
OKM High School Students get Front Page recognition in Daily Courier!! They definitely Volinspired us in raising alot of money for Canadian Red Cross and victims of the Ft. Mac. fires.
All week long OKM students from School District No. 23 have been smashing, crashing and bashing a 95 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme to raise money for Fort McMurray. From the initial idea to the final hammer smash, this event has been entirely driven by a group of OKM students who are working to be leaders for change.
OKM’s Leadership Team and Team Volinspire are raising money for Fort McMurray while also inspiring their peers to get involved in the community.
As a sponsor and supporter of Volinspire, Interior Savings has been involved in mentoring this group of students and has agreed to match all funds raised to support Canadian Red Cross relief efforts in Fort McMurray.
KelownaNow coverage:
https://www.kelownanow.com/watercooler/news/news/Kelowna/16/06/15/Kelowna_students_smash_95_Oldsmobile_to_raise_money_for_Fort_McMurray/
Global News coverage: http://globalnews.ca/news/2763794/kelowna-students-smash-for-cash-to-help-fort-mcmurray/
OKM’s Leadership Team and Team Volinspire are raising money for Fort McMurray while also inspiring their peers to get involved in the community.
As a sponsor and supporter of Volinspire, Interior Savings has been involved in mentoring this group of students and has agreed to match all funds raised to support Canadian Red Cross relief efforts in Fort McMurray.
KelownaNow coverage:
https://www.kelownanow.com/watercooler/news/news/Kelowna/16/06/15/Kelowna_students_smash_95_Oldsmobile_to_raise_money_for_Fort_McMurray/
Global News coverage: http://globalnews.ca/news/2763794/kelowna-students-smash-for-cash-to-help-fort-mcmurray/
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124 Adams rd
Kelowna, British Columbia
V1X 7R2
Health & Well-being
Human Rights
Philanthropy and Capacity Building