It鈥檚 already that time of year again for the annual 10,000 Tonight where Penticton high school students go around to homes in the hopes of collecting 10,000 non-perishable food items on Thursday, Nov. 23.
Every year Penticton Provides 鈥� made up of student volunteers and staff鈥� helps to sustain the needs of the food bank well into the new year with their 10,000 Tonight food drive while also hosting Toys for Tots to Teens for our most vulnerable during the Christmas season.
Students will be dropping flyers off at homes reminding people to put food items at the end of the driveway or on the doorstep for them to come collect on Thursday.
Every year the leadership students at both Princess Margaret and Penticton Secondary come together for the Penticton Provides program combining 10,000 Tonight and Toys for Tots to Teens to support Penticton families.
鈥淔amilies are still recovering from the impacts of COVID and are facing new struggles navigating inflation,鈥� said Annika Neill, a senior leadership student at Penticton Secondary School who is one of the organizers.
Their goals this year is to collect 1,000 new and unwrapped toys/gifts, collect 10,000 non-perishable food items and raise $20,000 which will all be spent within the community.
Food items can be dropped off at both high schools and Walmart has a drop site as well. New/unwrapped toys can be dropped off at Penticton Secondary School.
There will also be businesses coming on board to be drop-off sites as well.
The Toys for Tots to Teen event will take place Thursday, Dec. 7 at Pen Hi.
鈥淲e are excited to be able to invite community members into the building to receive a hot breakfast in exchange for a donation and enjoy local student entertainment,鈥� said Neill.
At the event, people can drive thru and drop off a donation or come into the building where the music department will provide entertainment, as well as several mascots including the Grinch. In years past, the Vees players have been there to help with the donation drop-offs.
Prior to the big event at Pen Hi, there will be numerous locations throughout the community to drop off an unwrapped gift.
