Donate to our Spring 2023 Fundraiser!
Will you help the Okanagan Fruit Tree Project support community-based food production, increase participation in local food systems, reduce tens of thousands of pounds of food waste, and share food with our community in a stigma-free way?
Donate today to support our 2023 season!
Our fundraiser will be live from April 19-May 31, 2023!
Why a Spring Fundraiser?
Spring is an equally exciting and challenging season for the OFTP. It’s that time of the year full of pent-up energy, when we are eagerly planning all of our yearly activities and programs, connecting with partners, making sure that our seedlings get planted, creating task lists and idea boards, purchasing supplies and equipment – well… you get the picture!
At the same time, Spring is also often a gap period in our yearly funding streams. With most grant funds coming in during the summertime, we often face an uncertain Spring, not knowing how much funding we will be able to rely on to carry out all of our big plans for the season.
This has been especially true in 2023, the first year that we are beginning to “move in” at our newly donated farm property in East Kelowna! There are many start-up costs, such as preparing our farm plot, fixing up and investing in new machinery.
This is where you come in!
By donating to our Springtime fundraiser you are ensuring that we are able to do what we do best, which is planning and executing a fruitful harvest season. The past few years of the Covid-19 pandemic have put a lot of financial pressure on many of the schools and social agencies to whom we donate produce, so knowing that we are able to continue supporting them through another season is a big deal!
What does your donation support?
Your generous donation supports us in helping build community around local food, through Spring planning and beyond! Donated funds will be used for:
- purchasing equipment and materials like irrigation, compost, gardening tools, picnic tables, a shade tent, and seedlings
- planting, nurturing, and harvesting fresh veggies
- planning and coordinating 50 to 100 harvests to rescue tens of thousands of pounds of produce (mostly tree fruits) that would otherwise go to waste
- making fresh produce deliveries to 100+ community partner agencies (like homeless shelters, seniors programs, supportive and transitional housing) and schools
- sharing knowledge about our local food systems with the community through workshops and dialogues
- working with our community partners to bring school groups and social service agency clients to come out and harvest with us
- staff hiring and training
- investing in digital tools and technologies to help us manage all of the data and information we need to track in order to be “a well-oiled machine” of an organization!
Check out the image gallery below to see what we get up to in a year!
Thank you to our fundraiser sponsors!
We want to give a BIG heartfelt thank you to the sponsors who have supported us so far. If you are a local business, club or association and would like to support the fundraiser, please contact us!
OUR SPONSORS & MATCHING DONORS:
- Rotary Club of Kelowna Ogopogo
- Tantalus Vineyards
- Rotary Club of Kelowna
- Okanagan Clinical Trials
- Arlo’s Honey Farm
- Traine Charitable Foundation
- Terralink
BUSINESSES WHO CONTRIBUTED PRIZES OR SERVICES:
PRIZES!! Make a donation and be entered to win:
Urban Harvest Organic Delivery
- Donate at least $25 and you will be entered to win a $500 gift card to Urban Harvest Organic Delivery (yes, you read that correctly)! Urban Harvest has been connecting local producers with local eaters since 2000! Choose from a wide selection of local and imported organic fruits and veggies, plus select local/regional grocery items, like eggs, dairy, bread, plant proteins, honey, coffee, chocolate, dips/dressings, and more! Free delivery + unlimited customizing + your choice of Harvest Box size + frequency to suit your needs!
Chickpeace Zero Waste Refillery
- Donate at least $25 and be entered to win a $25 gift certificate to Chickpeace Zero Waste store in Kelowna!. Chickpeace is a zero-waste refill store on a mission to reduce single-use plastics from the landfill. They offer sustainable and refillable options for food, cleaning and lifestyle products.
Amore Mio Authentic Italian Gelato
- Donate at least $25 and you will be entered to win a $25 gift card to Amore Mio Authentic Italian Gelato in downtown Kelowna! Authentically Italian and locally owned, this sweet little café is renowned for its premier gelato and variety of genuine Italian pastries, dishes and drinks. Sit on the outside patio and enjoy the European ambiance opposite the Sails (fountain), Kelowna’s famous landmark. Or visit the inside and be transported back to the Amalfi Coast with their beautiful mural that is also proudly local.
Jaide and Joel's Baking Co.
- Donate at least $50 and you will be entered to win a $50 gift card to Jaide & Joel’s Baking Co in Kelowna! All of their products are 100% vegan and gluten-free, and their original creations and signature products are sure to exceed all of your expectations! (Our staff has tasted their doughnuts… they dough-not disappoint!)
Lakehouse Home Store
- Donate at least $50 and you will be entered to win a $50 gift certificate to the Lakehouse Home Store in downtown Kelowna! The Lakehouse Home Store is a kitchen store, furniture showroom, and cooking school that sells high-quality cooking tools, small kitchen appliances, home decor and furniture.
La Vela Pizzeria
- Donate at least $50 and you will be entered to win a $50 gift certificate to La Vela Pizzeria in downtown Kelowna! La Vela Pizzeria has a unique flavour, unbelievable food and classic service that can only come from spending years in the restaurant industry. The La Vela family invites you to visit their restaurant today! They love this business and are passionate about cooking the finest Italian food!
OFTP Hoodie
- Donate at least $75 and you will be entered to win a limited edition OFTP-branded white or grey hoodie! So cozy, so chic! (sizes S, M, L available)
Suggested Donation Amounts
$25: By donating $25, you are covering the cost of a flat of seedlings that we will grow and nurture on our farm.
$50: By donating $50, you are covering the cost of a high-quality new farm tool, like a sharp hoe or sturdy shovel.
$100: By donating $100, you are covering the cost of organizing a backyard produce rescue harvest OR one of our community farm harvests.
$500: By donating $500, you are covering the cost of organizing a large orchard fruit harvest of up to 3000 lbs of fruit. This includes all of the planning, harvesting, and delivering produce to non-profits and schools!
In case you are wondering, YES, all donations are eligible for a tax receipt!
More about the Okanagan Fruit Tree Project!
The Okanagan Fruit Tree Project Society is a registered charity and community organization with the mission to “cultivate community through local food.” We do this by helping to build a thriving and equitable local food system, with a focus on community and environmental wellbeing. We run produce rescue, community farming, collaborative harvest, and food systems education programs. Our programs focus on:
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- increasing stigma-free access to fresh produce for people from all backgrounds and walks of life
- supporting community-based food production
- fostering opportunities for knowledge exchange
- increased participation in local food systems
To learn more about us, click HERE.
Okanagan Fruit Tree Project Society
PO Box 22001
Kelowna, BC
V1Y 9N9
250.277.1932
info@fruittreeproject.com
Registered Charity #
819840778 RR0001
We acknowledge that we are situated on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan People. We recognize, honour and respect the presence of Indigenous people, past, present and future.