Better Together Fund

Strengthen & Support your community

Donations to the Better Together Fund allow us to direct funding to food support, emergency response, and time-sensitive needs and opportunities.

Throughout these unprecedented times, we want our charity partners, donors, and supporters to know that we are committed to doing all that we can to support our community through the ongoing challenges that are being presented.

The Better Together Fund started in early 2020 as a way to respond to the immediate COVID-19 crisis and has continued as a wonderfully useful way for the Community Foundation North Okanagan to meet urgent needs as they arise in our community. Donors who give to this fund provide an important source of granting dollars for immediate response to emergencies and time-sensitive needs and opportunities.

While our communities learn to live with COVID-19, the impact of the pandemic is far from over. Economic challenges like inflation, rising grocery bills, transportation/gas costs, and time off work due to illness continue to be challenges. Many families and seniors are continuing to face food insecurity in our area. 

The Community Foundation North Okanagan used donations to the Better Together Fund to sponsor 160 food boxes per month starting in November 2020 with the intention of running the program for six months. It became abundantly clear, that the need continues for the Vernon and Regional area, and so has the support. CFNO has sponsored more than 2,600 boxes this past year and is planning to continue helping as long as donations to the Better Together Fund permit.

“Throughout these unprecedented times, we want our charity partners, donors and supporters to know that we are committed to doing all that we can to support our community through the ongoing challenges being presented. Donations to the Better Together Fund help us do that, and our donors enable us to fill the gap, wherever that may be.” Leanne Hammond Executive Director, CFNO.


Donations In Action
Thanks to continued donor contributions the Better Together Community Response Fund most recently helped the Upper Room Mission (URM) install a shower for the unhoused population in our community. URM is a day shelter offering meals, clothing and other emergency services to clients in our communities. Read the news story here.

This Fund has also provided support for the North Okanagan Good Food Box Society, to feed local families, seniors, and individuals facing food insecurity. Thanks to the donations made to this fund, the Community Foundation has sponsored more than 2,880 fresh grocery boxes (and grocery cards) this past year and will continue with more support in the coming few months. Read the news story here.

View more recent grants here.


Donate

Monthly giving is one of the most efficient ways to donate. You don’t have to worry about remembering to give every year, and it’s a great way to make a big impact.

Thank you for your generous contribution.

Ways to give:

  1. Online donations – complete the form below.
  2. Etransfer – send to [email protected] and specify that is it for the Better Together Community Response Fund
  3. Cheque – payable to CFNO, please note “Better Together Community Response Fund” in the memo space, Mail to: CFNO #304 – 3402 27th Avenue, Vernon BC V1T 1S1
  4. Securities Transfer – forms available by contacting Leanne at 250-542-8655 or email [email protected]

We connect people who care with causes that matter! We support the communities in our region through the stewardship of entrusted funds, grantmaking, and community leadership.