United Way BC - Southern Interior

10/14/2026

🔟 100 More Homes Penticton is celebrating 10 years of collaboration and impact. And what a decade it’s been!

Working together with United Way BC, governments at all levels, health care and housing providers, businesses, social service agencies, Indigenous organizations, and people with lived and living experience and collective have accomplished some big wins in the past decade, including:

✔️Securing a permanent Winter Shelter to prevent homelessness

✔️Advocating for the permanent role of Social Development staff at the City of Penticton - Municipality

✔️Supporting the development of recovery-focused supportive housing in Penticton

✔️Supporting initiatives aimed at tenant protection and the development of Social Housing policy (SHIP) with the City of Penticton

2025 marks another year of progress and evolution for the collective, with stronger coordination, increased leadership from people with lived and living experience, and a growing focus on long-term systems change.

Read more about our key achievements in the 100 More Homes 2025 Year in Review: https://bit.ly/4s1XhaZ

Together, we are UNITED for housing.

10/12/2026

Thanksgiving is a time to gather, share a meal, and feel connected to community.

But accessing nutritious food isn’t always easy for seniors in BC. Community food programs can help by providing supports such as groceries, prepared meals, food delivery, food hampers, and community meals.

This Thanksgiving, help put nutritious food within reach for seniors in our communities.

❤️ Donate now: uwbc.ca/campaign/food-security-for-seniors/

10/10/2026

Housing provides physical, emotional, social, and economic stability. Yet too many people in British Columbia, whether youth, families, seniors, or veterans, struggle to achieve this basic human right.

United Way BC works with local providers, social service agencies, municipal and provincial governments, and people with lived experience to help folks get the housing supports they need.

(“Housing supports” are the financial, legal, and social services designed to help individuals and families secure, afford, and maintain safe housing.)

As part of World Homeless Day and Homelessness Action Week, running October 10-16, we encourage people to learn about homelessness in their community, local services available to those looking for supports, and ways they can contribute to solutions.

Here are some of the ways we’re working to prevent and reduce homelessness:

🔵100 More Homes https://bit.ly/4zh0tSn
🔵Reaching Home https://bit.ly/4j7bi4R
🔵 Veteran Homelessness Program https://bit.ly/4yDvDDJ

Read more about Homelessness Action Week here: https://bit.ly/4i9JxYf

10/09/2026

Many of today’s unhoused adults first experienced homelessness as young people, making generational homelessness a pressing and, often, hidden issue.

Join United Way BC, 100 More Homes Penticton, Penticton Indian Band - Public, the City of Penticton - Municipality and the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen for the premiere of:

▶️Somewhere to Stay: Youth Homelessness & Belonging in the Forever Place
➡️Wednesday, October 14, 6:00-7:30 PM
➡️Cleland Community Theatre, Penticton

➡️Get your tickets to this free event now: https://bit.ly/4yg1SI2

This short film, produced by the 100 More Homes Youth Action Table, explores what it’s like to be young and homelessness in Penticton, and the importance of creating a community where every young person has a safe place to call home. A panel discussion follows the film.

➡️Complimentary pizza and drinks
➡️Arts and crafts created by youth at Foundry Penticton's Youth Market available for purchase in theatre lobby

Join us for the premiere of Somewhere to Stay, a short film followed by a panel discussion about Youth Homelessness in Penticton.

10/09/2026

Earlier this month, 100 More Homes Penticton Chair, Tanya Behardien, 100 More Homes Coordinator/United Way BC, Amanda P**n, and 100 More Homes Penticton members and City staff with Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield and Councillors Graham, Gilbert, Watt, Stewart and Reynen with the City of Penticton - Municipality Proclamation of Homelessness Action Week, October 10-16.

We thank the City of Penticton for their commitment to preventing and reducing homelessness in the Southern Interior. The proclamation encourages all residents to participate in activities that promote understanding, reconciliation, housing stability, and community inclusion for all.

Read more about Homelessness Action Week here: https://bit.ly/4i9JxYf

10/07/2026

Communities across British Columbia did not simply respond to hunger last year. Working through United Way BC Food Security Initiatives, they tackled this complex issue by focusing on strengthening connection, belonging, and resilience for those in need.

Thanks to these efforts, almost 450,000 individuals were supported.

Read our Food Security 2025-2026 Year in Review to learn more about the remarkable programs, partnerships and supports that are helping increase the health and wellbeing of British Columbians: https://bit.ly/4jEmUwk

Together, we are UNITED for food security.

10/05/2026

Arts and culture have a unique way of bringing communities together, and that's exactly what happened at the Rotary Centre for the Arts in Kelowna during Cultural Days.

Organized by Creative Okanagan and the City of Kelowna, the event featured an incredible lineup of local artists and performers who donated their talents to support the United Way BC Wildfire Recovery Fund. Through an evening of live music, performances, and community generosity, attendees helped raise funds to support individuals, families, and communities recovering from the impacts of wildfires across our region.

Heather van Der Gaag, Campaign Manager, Corporate Partnerships, was honoured to share how donations are making a difference for those rebuilding and recovering after wildfire events. Also on hand to support the evening was Mayor Tom Dyas and United Way BC Campaign Associate Jason Collins.

A heartfelt thank you to Creative Okanagan, the City of Kelowna, the Rotary Centre for the Arts, the talented performers, Mayor Tom Dyas, Jason Collins, and everyone who attended and contributed. Together, we're helping communities recover, rebuild, and move forward.

10/05/2026

Thank you to Phantom Creek Estates and everyone who supported the 10th Anniversary Legacy Gala for your incredible generosity!

Through the Gala's wildfire fundraising initiative, $44,500 was raised for United Way British Columbia's United for BC Wildfire Recovery Fund, helping support recovery, and rebuilding efforts in communities affected by wildfires across B.C.

We are grateful for this meaningful contribution and for the broader support from the Chinese Canadian community, which has contributed nearly $100,000 toward wildfire relief and recovery in recent weeks.
Together, we are helping communities recover and rebuild stronger. ❤️

09/21/2026

Community Comes Together

A huge thank you to Glasshouse Project, BNA Penticton, and Oxygen Yoga & Fitness Kelowna for coming together to support those impacted by the Summerland wildfires.

Through their event at BNA Penticton, Glasshouse collected donations totaling an incredible $1,560, with a generous contribution also made by Oxygen Fitness.

We are so grateful to everyone who helped make this possible. In times of need, it’s the generosity and compassion of our community that makes a real difference. ❤️

Thank you, Glasshouse, BNA Penticton & Oxygen Fitness, for standing with the Summerland community. 🙏

09/21/2026

What a year! Across BC, seniors found friendship, support, and new ways to stay active and connected in their communities.

Our 2025–26 Healthy Aging Year in Review celebrates older adults and the local organizations, volunteers, donors, and partners who show up for them every day. Together, we’re helping seniors feel valued, included, and supported close to home.

See how older adults across BC are building connections and thriving:https://uwbc.canto.com/direct/document/ttpkvcuhsh60l8kk9mhf9obi3j/w5uKXkrF7uUhvB4cTkXtWAyuYhw/original?content-type=application%2Fpdf&name=uwbc-ha-year-in-review-25-26-V07.pdf