One of the Slocan Valley Co-operative’s core values is Dedication, balancing our commitment to members, staff, and community. Our Co-op developed a new opportunity to support efforts to help build our community. We are excited to announce the Board of Directors approved a new multi-year funding program that will provide a 5 year commitment of support to the W.E. Graham Community Service Society totaling $25,000.

The W.E. Graham Community Service Society provides programs and services that actively engage individuals and families in the Slocan Valley. Supporting people in the region in numerous ways, their highly active work involves their Learning Centre, childcare, Youth Centre, and Food Cupboard. Our contribution will go toward their Senior’s Lunch Program.

The program offered a seniors lunch delivery service during Covid restrictions when seniors were largely isolated, and the society prepared and delivered meals to seniors at their homes. Once the pandemic ended, the society was able to go back to in-person seniors lunch gatherings with events in Slocan and New Denver. The demand for this program has grown and seniors in all the communities we serve are expressing the need to have these important, in-person gatherings happen on a more regular basis. They have expressed to the society that not only is it important to have a place for seniors to access a free and nutritious lunch, but it is also important to have a place to hold social gatherings and access to information about other services available, removing some of burdens of isolation.

Each event serves between 60 – 75 seniors in the Slocan Valley, and over 100 seniors in New Denver. The response allowed the society to see the need for the services in the area to expand. The additional funding will allow them to begin plans to offer in-person seniors gatherings to cover Hills to the north, and Crescent Valley to the south.

The Slocan Valley Co-operative proudly supports the society’s efforts by providing a multi-year commitment to help expand their program. The challenges many people face throughout the areas we operate are amplified during these times, especially for those with little-to-no options available to them. We genuinely hope our contribution will help make a difference in their lives.

For more information on the W.E. Graham Community Service Society, see their website at www.wegcss.org