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Okanagan outreach facing dire times as donations drop, demand skyrockets

All Are Family Outreach founder says the organization could shut down by end of year without help
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Okanagan-based All Are Family Outreach Society, which provides support to those struggling from Armstrong to Kelowna, is in dire straits after receiving extremely low donations since March 2023. (All Are Family Outreach photo)

Clary Lausnes is wondering how much longer her small outreach team can hold out.

Since 2014, Lausnes and her husband have run All Are Family Outreach, helping people struggling to get by from Armstrong to Kelowna with food, fuel costs, rent payments, funds for medication, moral support and anything else they can help with.

But at a time when the cost of living is exploding and demand for their services is skyrocketing, donations to the outreach have been close to nil of late, and Lausnes fears their project to help the less fortunate may be nearing the end of the line.

Just this year, the outreach has twice had to close for weeks at a time due to a lack of resources.

Lausnes says funds haven香蕉视频直播檛 been there to put fuel in the outreach香蕉视频直播檚 van, meaning they haven香蕉视频直播檛 been able to deliver goods to people in need.

香蕉视频直播淲e do need fuel for the van, we have the sea can we rent for storage, we do help people with medication and such, and we香蕉视频直播檙e just completely unable to do that,香蕉视频直播 Lausnes said.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 at such a dire point that if we don香蕉视频直播檛 get a pretty substantial donation or help, we will be closed by at least the end of the year if not sooner.香蕉视频直播

Lausnes said the outreach received a good amount of support over Christmas that tided them over until March, but since then it香蕉视频直播檚 been a struggle.

香蕉视频直播淲e do have somebody doing a food drive in July that will be a big help stocking the shelves, but again, if we can香蕉视频直播檛 pay the sea can to store it in or get the food to people, it香蕉视频直播檚 kind of a moot point,香蕉视频直播 Lausnes said.

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Lausnes says times are tough for many families who rely on their services, and lately they香蕉视频直播檙e starting to see new families come to them, ones that have never used a food bank before.

She fears if All Are Family is eventually forced to shut down, a number of people will have nowhere else to turn.

香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 this idea out there that there香蕉视频直播檚 so many organizations that everybody must be covered. That香蕉视频直播檚 simply not the case,香蕉视频直播 she said.

香蕉视频直播淲e have families walking by the blessing boxes every day to hope that there香蕉视频直播檚 a little bit of food that they can take home to their children. Blessing boxes are not really intended for families, they香蕉视频直播檙e intended for the street people.

香蕉视频直播淭hat old saying of 香蕉视频直播榚verybody thought that somebody should do it but nobody did it,香蕉视频直播 that香蕉视频直播檚 kind of the situation we香蕉视频直播檙e ending up in now.香蕉视频直播

Lausnes believes the federal and provincial governments need to do more for low-income families amid the escalating cost of living.

香蕉视频直播淚f changes aren香蕉视频直播檛 made soon, if the government doesn香蕉视频直播檛 step in and do something, the dirty 30s are going to look like a sweet dream.香蕉视频直播

All Are Family香蕉视频直播檚 shutdowns this year have been due to a complete lack of staple foods, including rice, ramen noodles, jam and fruit juice. She says while fruit juice might not seem essential, it香蕉视频直播檚 the next best thing when storing and distributing fresh fruit isn香蕉视频直播檛 feasible.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 been scientifically proven that if you can give a child a healthy diet, that greatly improves their chance of breaking any circles of poverty,香蕉视频直播 she said.

Aside from a few part-time volunteers, All Are Family Outreach is run by only three people, and there is limited time between them to take up fundraising campaigns.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e dealing with suicide calls, depression calls, we香蕉视频直播檙e dealing with marital abuse calls, that has all skyrocketed, besides giving out hampers and trying to raise funds, and we香蕉视频直播檙e tired, we just can香蕉视频直播檛 do all of it and the fundraising on top of it.香蕉视频直播

Lausnes encourages anyone who may have an idea for a fundraiser for the outreach to reach out to her at or by phone at 250-503-4983. E-transfers can also be sent through the email.

All Are Family is also hosting a three-day yard sale fundraiser July 7-9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. The yard sale will be located at 6900 Tronson Rd., near Kin Beach. There will be books, DVDs, pre-loved clothing, household goods and other donated items for sale. The outreach will also raffle off a wine and goodies gift basket and sell tickets for draws for two pork loins worth more than $80. Tickets are three for $5.

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Brendan Shykora
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Brendan Shykora

About the Author: Brendan Shykora

I started at the Morning Star as a carrier at the age of 8. In 2019 graduated from the Master of Journalism program at Carleton University.
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