Kelowna, BC teen creates homeless care packages with grants – Okanagan

A toothbrush, something to eat and socks are just a few of the things October Angell-Janfield, 15, packs in bags for homeless people in the Okanagan.

“I wanted to do something similar for a while,” said BGC Okanagan Club member Angell-Janfield.

“Honestly, it’s been such a positive thing in my life.”

The teenager asked for and got a Rising Youth Micro-Grant for $1,500 to purchase all the items needed for the kits and with the help of members and staff of the Downtown Youth Center at the Okanagan BGC Club.

“The Rising Youth Fellowship is a great project. The organization that puts it together makes it really accessible for young people to apply,” said Scotia Hewitt, Downtown Youth Center drop-in coordinator.

The grant has proven useful over the years to the BGC Okanagan Club. Thanks to a grant, they were able to build the Karma Closet in the basement which is filled with clothes that have been donated to the society and members can take them home at no cost.

“There are so many grants available that people don’t take advantage of and it’s hard because people feel like they don’t have an impact and they can’t change the world, but they really can,” Hewitt said.

With grant money, the possibilities are endless for teens who want to do something nice for their community, and packaged care packages will make someone’s day a little brighter.

Treatment packages are available for pickup

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at Teen Junction in Vernon, the Westside Youth Center in the West Bank, the Downtown Youth Center in Kelowna and the Kelowna Friendship Society.