Two Generous Donations!

The OSNS Child and Youth Development Centre is sharing some exciting news with two very generous donations to help thousands of children in the South Okanagan and Similkameen!

The Eagles Ladies Auxiliary #4281 kindly donated $1,100 towards repair and upgrade of the Kinderplace outdoor learning area. They have been long time supporters of OSNS. The outdoor learning area is used by hundreds of children year-round to inspire creativity and promote motor skills. The learning area, first built in 1996 will see the addition of natural play elements thanks to the generosity of The Eagles Ladies Auxiliary.

“We’ve been strong supporters of OSNS and the children of our community for decades and are happy to help provide funding for equipment” says Helen Little of the Eagles Ladies Auxillary.

The Board of Directors of the First West Foundation is donating $7500 to the OSNS Child and Youth Development Centre. This generous donation will play a vital role in creating the Valley First Teaching Kitchen. OSNS is seeking to turn our existing kitchen into a food and nutrition teaching space for children and families. This program will run in cooperation with our Learning and Sharing Garden and will include teaching about healthy food choices in light of the food sensitivities and texture preferences of many children with developmental challenges. This will be an activity based teaching program that will allow families to practice nutritious food preparation in cooperation with their children. The intent is for children to establish early positive relationships with nutritious foods.

“We’re very excited to partner with an organization that has such a holistic approach to children’s health and wellbeing,” says Seline Kutan, Executive Director of the First West Foundation. “Having the capacity to teach not only the parents but the whole family in the new Valley First Teaching Kitchen goes a long way to establishing positive relationships with nutritious food,” added Kutan.