What is the total number of children living in poverty in the Central Okanagan?

There are about 5,970 children living in poverty in the Central Okanagan.

What demographic groups are most affected by poverty in British Columbia?

Poverty rates are notably higher among recent immigrant children (44.9%), Aboriginal children (off-reserve 30.9%), and racialized children (23%).

How many families are served by okanagan valley food bank?

The Central Okanagan Food Bank, which operates in locations including Kelowna and West Kelowna, provides food assistance to about 6,500 individuals each month. This significant effort addresses the needs of a diverse group of individuals in the community, with children and youth making up 36% of those assisted, and seniors on fixed incomes representing another 22%. The food bank supports a broad section of the community, not just those on social assistance but also working individuals who are struggling to meet their needs due to various financial challenges. Their work is crucial in the region, helping to combat food insecurity and support those in need.

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FREEING PEOPLE FROM HUNGER

Growing To Give

Growing To Give is a registered 501c3 non-profit that
develops projects and partnerships to free people from
hunger across the country and around the world.

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Growing To Give Canada
Helens Acres
Crop Circle Farms And Gardens

Growing To Give Canada

On May 1st, 2019, Growing To Give was asked to build a special farm project to help feed people in need. Our team became a part of Helen's Acres, a community farm operated by the Trinity Legacy Foundation, located in Kelowna, BC. The farm supports social impact groups that provide food security for the community. We were honored to join in their effort to alleviate hunger in the valley.

A staggering $1,200 a month is what is required for a family of four living in the Okanagan Valley to buy groceries in a food costing report put out by the BC Provincial Health Services Authority. There are several levels of food insecurity that exist; families that worry each month about running out of food, families that can’t afford to make nutritious choices and at the most severe level – families that go to bed hungry.

Children Living In Poverty

With 1 in 5 children living in poverty in the valley, West Kelowna has the highest rate at 35.3% leaving families with a challenge to buy enough food to survive with little chance to thrive. It’s clear that the future of the region depends on the health and welfare of our children. They say it takes a village to raise a healthy well-fed child and what better way than to establish a Growing To Give farm right at the center of the community.

We’ve Done Something Phenomenal in The Okanagan Valley!

The farm supports social impact groups that provide food security for the community. We were honored to join in their effort to alleviate hunger in the valley using our proprietary Crop Circle Farms and Gardens to grow over 100,000 pounds of food that was shared between several food banks and the Salvation army.

Large farm production spirals grew yellow bush beans, sweet corn, bell peppers and tomatoes. Smaller Crop Circle Gardens grew many types of garden vegetables including 20 varieties of tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, eggplant, carrots, beets, beans, kale, chard, cucumber, squash, pumpkin, watermelon, cantaloupe, cauliflower, collards, kohlrabi, lettuce, spinach, onions, okra, parsnips, peas, rapini, radish, tomatillo, amaranth, broccoli, cabbage, sunflowers, zucchini, herbs, medicinal and cut flowers.