United Way Campaign

The Kamloops-Thompson School District is committed to the District Strategic Plan values of Equity, Connections and Relationships, Well-being, and Sustainability. We are proud to support the United Way who shares our commitment to these values by supporting programs that bring people together to inspire local action and build stronger, more resilient communities across our District.

The United Way BC’s commitment to local giving creates local results. In 2023, United Way BC invested over $5 million dollars to support people in need in the Thompson Nicola Cariboo Region.

There are several United Way BC initiatives that support kids and youth within the Kamloops-Thompson region and School District No. 73 communities.

The Schools Out Program provides free or low barrier after-school care for vulnerable kids ages 5–12 between the critical hours of 3–6 pm. This program located in Kamloops and Ashcroft focuses on supporting kids with homework help, life skills, basic needs like food and nutrition, and social and emotional support. Watch the School’s Out Kamloops story here.

The Youth Futures Education Fund (YFEF) helps create equal educational opportunities for  youth and adults who have been in government care by providing low-barrier access to funds for basic living expenses like food, rent, technology, child care, and more. This program, available for any student coming out of government care across British Columbia (who are also using the BC Tuition Waiver Program to access free tuition), supports TRU in Kamloops/Williams Lake and Nicola Valley Institute of Technology in Merritt.

The United Way’s Regional Community Food Hub coordinates efforts between local nonprofits serving marginalized and underserved groups, school districts, faith-based organizations, food suppliers, and food recovery groups who deliver rescued food to local hubs. Programming includes food hampers, meal distribution, community gardens, food literacy, and skill building, and funding for staff and infrastructure. Read more about the Clearwater Regional Community Food Hub here.

The Community Services Recovery Fund is a $400 million investment from the Government of Canada to support charities and nonprofits as they build resilience by making investments in their people, organizations, and program innovation. Some of the the local charities and nonprofit organizations that receive funding through the Community Services Recovery Fund include: 2 Rivers Remix Society, Barriere Recreation Society, Cariboo Child Care Society, Community Futures Development Corporation of Central Interior First Nations, Kamloops Film Society, Kamloops Sexual Assault Counselling Centre Society, Kamloops-Cariboo Regional Immigrants Society, Lii Michif Otipemisiwak Family and Community Services, and the Kamloops and District Society for People in Motion, to name a few. 

The BC Wildfire Recovery Fund provides immediate and long-term support to communities most affected by BC Wildfires. This fund goes towards addressing important needs like food assistance, trauma, and mental health support.

The Critical Food Infrastructure Grant (CFIG) aims to increase access to traditional and culturally preferable foods by supporting initiatives prioritizing Indigenous food sovereignty and regional self-determination. This grant aims to improve year-round access to nourishing and culturally preferable foods by supporting initiatives that overcome barriers limiting food access, such as high food costs, logistical challenges, and lack of infrastructure like refrigeration, food storage, and cooking facilities. The local recipients of this grant received a combined total of $212,853.69 that was allocated to the following:

  • Community Futures Development Corporation of Central Interior First Nations: The K’wse’ltkten Kitchen Infrastructure Upgrade Project seeks to enhance a mobile kitchen that supports Indigenous food security and sovereignty across the Secwépemc, Syilx, Nlaka'pamux, and St'át'imc nations. By improving this mobile facility, the project will bolster economic opportunities for Indigenous entrepreneurs, support sustainable agriculture, and enhance access to traditional foods in both urban and remote communities.
  • Mount Paul Community Food Centre (Interior Community Services) will receive funding to enhance its food access kitchen, food skills kitchen, and learning garden. This funding will enable vital improvements such as kitchen redesign, equipment purchases, and garden upgrades to ensure the center's functionality, capacity, and sustainability, ultimately improving access to healthy food for the community and advancing a more inclusive food system.
  • Yellowhead Community Services Society: The Dutch Lake Community Centre kitchen project aims to enhance food access and literacy by installing new induction stoves, a commercial cooler, stainless steel workstation, shelving, and a portable cooling unit. Meanwhile, the community garden project at 612 Park Drive focuses on improving food sovereignty by purchasing garden soil, installing irrigation systems, and fostering local food production. Additionally, the Gleaning Program in Barriere will be supported with safety ladders and fruit-picking baskets, furthering food recovery efforts. These initiatives will collectively empower families and individuals accessing YCS Food Security Programming, expanding the organization's capacity to serve the community.

Every dollar donated to the United Way BC directly impacts your local community, through the programs listed above and many more. Learn more at uwbc.ca.

Explore more local stories from United Way BC below to learn more about the impact UWBC is making in your communities. 

Wildfire Response – Kamloops

Wildfire Response Wildfire Response Wildfire Response

November 23, 2023

Beautiful, practical, warm and cozy, a quilt is so much more than a blanket. The skill, creativity, and effort that goes into each and every one is like wrapping the recipients in a hug.

Heather Fagervik of Heather's Fabric Shelf in Kamloops was able to coordinate the donation of an incredible collection of handmade quilts, made and donated specifically for individuals and families impacted by the Bush Creek East Wildfire.

Natika, one of our United Way BC colleagues, was able to make the delivery to Salmon Arm, where they were received at the Resiliency Centre by Monica Kriese, the Donations Coordinator of Emergency Operations from Columbia Shuswap Regional District.

It's things like this that show the real heart of these beautiful communities we serve, and we couldn't be more grateful to play a role in bringing people together. 

Youth – Logan Lake 

Logan Lake Logan Lake Logan Lake

June 20, 2024

The Logan Lake WHY is one of our important community partners in the Thompson Nicola Cariboo, working to support people of all ages, from children and youth to seniors. As a partner and one of the recipients of our Child and Youth Mental Health Grants, we were invited to Logan Lake to meet the new Executive Director, Dennison Bona, during Local Government Awareness Week last month.

Making those connections, building relationships, and supporting our community partners is a vital part of the work we do. We are grateful for each and every one. 

Food Security – Kamloops 

Food Security - KamloopsAugust 22, 2024

More people have better access to nutritious food thanks to provincial funding that is supporting food infrastructure projects across BC.

The United Way BC Critical Food Infrastructure Grant will support 108 community-led projects to boost local food storage, transport, and redistribution across our province, including over $600,000 in the Thompson Nicola Cariboo region. The grant will support Whispering Pines / Clinton Band’s creation of a multifunctional space, including a walipini (a sunken greenhouse that uses the earth’s heat and solar to create a microclimate) for year-round growth, cold storage, and processing centre equipped with dehydrators, freezers, freeze dryers, and food sealers. Additionally, a new garden area will be established, supported by fertile soils and seedlings, along with fruit trees planted to enhance food production.

As a trusted partner to the provincial government, United Way BC is tackling critical gaps in food access, enabling a more food-secure future in BC. 

Food Security – Logan Lake

Food Security - Logan Lake Food Security - Logan Lake Food Security - Logan Lake

May 23, 2024

On May 11, 2024 some of the United Way BC - Thompson Nicola Cariboo Region staff were asked to go volunteer alongside one of our community champions, USW Local 7619, to support Lobsterfest 2024 in Logan Lake.

This community event goes towards raising money for the Logan Lake Lions Club and the Logan Lake WHY to support programs and services for all ages offered within the community.

The collaboration, enthusiasm, and willingness to go the extra mile is something that has always set USW Local 7619 apart, and our local United Way BC team was so proud to work alongside them, and the other incredible volunteers to achieve some big goals.

With the Logan Lake Lions Club cooking the steaks, and the USW Local 7619 in charge of the lobsters, we were able to feed over 250 guests their choice of steak or lobster (or sometimes BOTH), and a variety of sides that were generously donated by USW Local 7619.

​​They had such a fabulous time, enjoying a delicious meal, and coming together to support two organizations that have been entrenched in the community for many, many years. It is an honour to help them reach their goals.

#ThankU(nited) for all you do. #Unitedforcommunity

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