Help Sooth a Student's Hunger
Donate to the Student Food Bank
Maintaining a nutritious, healthy diet is critical for our health and our ability to study and focus. For many students, food scarcity is a real and ongoing problem.
In order to help students who are facing food insecurity, Okanagan College's student unions provide food banks on four campuses - Penticton, Vernon, Kelowna and Salmon Arm. All of these food banks are in dire need of supplies.
A donation of just $25 per month can help soothe a student’s hunger and allow them to focus on their education.
For more information or to make a financial contribution, please contact foundation@okanagan.bc.ca or (250) 862-5630.
To donate non-perishable food or personal hygiene items, please contact:
urban@ocsu.ca for the Penticton, Kelowna, or Salmon Arm campuses
ereist@okanagan.bc.ca for the Vernon campus
Support Students Struggling to Make Ends Meet
Donate to Emergency Bursaries
Since January 2021, Okanagan College Foundation has disbursed nearly $69,000 in emergency bursaries to students in crisis. These bursaries help bridge students through difficult times and can be used to cover the cost of groceries, rent, heating, transportation, and unexpected living expenses.
The unprecedented levels of inflation we’ve seen in 2022 have led to a 100% increase in students applying for emergency bursaries.
By contributing to Emergency Bursaries at Okanagan College, you can help these students pay for essentials like food, safe shelter, and transportation to and from their classes.
“As many students are familiar with, finding affordable accommodations is very difficult in Kelowna. In order for me to be able to attend Okanagan College, I have lived in my trailer, but unfortunately, during the final week of classes, the heater unit in my trailer failed. After speaking with various trailer mechanics, I was told that due to ongoing covid supply chain issues, a new unit would be a couple of weeks out.
I am not from the Okanagan and therefore don't have any other places to stay for the exam period. This left me with a dark reality for exams. In order to complete them, I would have to try and live in a heater-less trailer in sub-zero temperatures. Luckily, thanks to the great generosity of the Okanagan College Foundation's emergency funding I was able to stay in a hotel for the remaining time and complete my exams. This funding has allowed me to stay warm and comfortably study to ensure I can do my very best on the exams.”
-- Reef Gladwin
Set up an award
When you create a student award, you're helping a student excel in their studies as a result of being able to focus on school and work less. Did you know the average student at OC who applies for a student loan has an annual unmet need of $2,163 after all sources of income, including student loans, are taken into consideration?
Your donation can establish a new award or support an existing scholarship or bursary. Many people set up an award in honour or in memory of a loved one as a way to recognize their passion or achievements.
Some of the greatest needs are:
- Emergency bursaries for students facing sudden challenges that threaten their continuation of school
- Entrance funds to help students overcome that initial barrier to entering post secondary, especially Aboriginal students
- Bursaries to help low-income students
To learn more contact us at: foundation@okanagan.bc.ca.
Help transform lives and communities