By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
The Rotary Club of Osoyoos and Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre have partnered to continue the longtime work of the Kiwanis Club of Osoyoos for the Share the Spirit Christmas program.
The Christmas program allows individuals, families, or businesses to sponsor a family in the community and provide gifts and food to that family to give them a more joyous Christmas.
Key organizer and longtime club member, Donna Kelso, touched on the key reason for the change, something that is increasingly becoming an issue for many volunteer-driven groups in town – an “aging out” of the membership.
“The Kiwanis Club has organized the program since 2006 but as our membership is aging and has dwindled in recent years, it has become impossible to continue the program as in the past, so it is time to pass the responsibility to the Rotary Club of Osoyoos and Desert Sun,” explained Kelso.
“It’s all about helping those in the community who don’t have a lot and ensuring they will be able to enjoy a happy and enjoyable Christmas together.
“Our members enjoyed doing this over the years and helped so many families have a brighter Christmas. It is something the whole community supports, and we feel confident it will continue under the stewardship of this new partnership,” Kelso adds.
In Oliver the Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre manages a similar Christmas program.
Using its existing infrastructure, Desert Sun said it will work with agencies including Victims Assistance, the Okanagan Boys & Girls Club, the Food Bank, schools, and churches to identify recipients in Osoyoos.
“We are very honoured and happy to continue the work of the Kiwanis Club under this new arrangement. In ways so hard to measure, the Kiwanis Club members have made their impact on hundreds of families over the years,” said Marieze Tarr, Executive Director of Desert Sun.
When looking for a successor to take over the program, Kelso approached the Rotary Club of Osoyoos recognizing that the Club was active in the community and has the capacity to continue the Kiwanis legacy.
“We felt it was important that The Share the Spirit Christmas program continue to benefit needy families in the community and looked to partner with Desert Sun as a way of building on the work of the Kiwanis members. It is a great example of collaboration all around,” said Valerie Rasmussen, President of the Rotary Club of Osoyoos.
Those wishing to support the Share the Spirit Christmas program this year can adopt a family through Desert Sun or make a cash donation and donations can also be made through the Rotary Club of Osoyoos. Charitable receipts can only be issued by Desert Sun. Donations will be used to provide for those families who do not receive sponsorship.
Christmas gifts donated during the annual Smitty’s Toys for Tots to Teens – at Smitty’s Family Restaurant in Osoyoos – and other events throughout the community will be collected by the Rotary Club of Osoyoos as part of The Share the Spirit Christmas Program to be disbursed by Desert Sun.
