Lindsay Slobodzian (left), centre director for the South Okanagan Boys and Girls Club and Sarah Udy, a child, youth and family counsellor display farm bags during last year’s fundraiser. The Boys and Girls Club has been participating in the program since its inception and says it’s a great way to raise funds and promote the community.
Photo contributed
The idea is simple; buy local, raise money, eat well.
The project is the Farm Bag fundraiser, a program that provides consumers in the South Okanagan with a way to purchase locally grown produce over the winter months, while supporting a not-for-profit organization or school within their community.
Now in its third year of operation, the program enables the participating organizations to sell a set bag of organic produce as a fundraising project, with a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of each bag going towards the recipient organization.
From October to February, customers collect a pre-paid bag that contains a variety of seven to 10 seasonal fruits and vegetables or approximately 20 pounds, as well as a newsletter with information about each product, and cooking tips.
The fundraiser is the brainchild of agri-enthusiasts Thomas Tumbach, Jennifer Vincent and Nicholas Vincent. The trio launched the program in 2011 as a way to offer a farmer’s market over the winter months. Since its inception the program has raised over $20,000 for local community groups and purchased 70,000 pounds of BC grown produce. Vincent said more than 800 families have purchased produce through the Farm Bag.
This year the Farm Bag team is developing sponsor relationships with Valley First Credit Union, Nature’s Fare Markets, Quality Green Markets, Enactus Okanagan College and Impressionable Careerwear.
“Farmers markets have shown buying direct from the farmer is popular,” noted Vincent. “When markets close for the season in October, where will these hundreds of locavore customers get guaranteed access to local fruits and vegetables?”
Vincent said the Farm Bag answers this question.
“Part of the joy of receiving a farm bag is learning what is available out of the growing months,” she said. “Many of our customers are surprised and delighted at the variety of fruits and veggies.”
To purchase the bags, customers can go to the Farm Bag fundraiser website and select one of the 27 participating groups to support and collect their bags from. Groups are located in Keremeos, Okanagan Falls, Kaleden, Penticton, Kelowna and West Kelowna.
In Oliver, those interested in purchasing produce can do so at the South Okanagan Boys and Girls Club or Tuc-el-Nuit Elementary School.
Lindsay Slobodzian, centre director at the Boys and Girls Club, thinks the concept is a win-win.
“The produce is almost all organic, and it all comes from farms in our area so it gives people a chance to support our local growers which is important. And the money we raise will also help give kids in the community a safe place to go.”
She and her staff are hoping to raise $1,000 through this
year’s Farm Bag. The funds will go to their youth drop-in program. The drop-in program provides local teens with a supervised, safe environment where they can play sports and games, skateboard or just hang out. Slobodzian said there is also a youth counsellor available if they need someone to talk to.
“One thousand dollars might not sound like a lot but we are a not-for-profit organization so it’s a lot to us. It will make a difference.”
The money will go toward rental space for the drop in program and other costs associated with maintaining it.
Funds from bags purchased through Tuc-el-Nuit school will go to support the school district’s pow wow. The proceeds will help pay for drummers, dancers and the meals provided at the pow wow.
Anyone interested in purchasing a farm bag can visit www.farmbagfundraiser.com. Bags are $30 for three to five months or $34 a month.
Orders are due the last Friday of each month and it must be paid in advance.
Erin Christie
Oliver Chronicle
