The Salvation Army Okanagan Central

08/27/2026

💜 Find Your Purple, Show Your Support 💜

In recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day on Monday August 31st, we invite our staff, volunteers, customers, and community members to wear purple.

Looking for something to wear? Visit our thrift stores and discover a great selection of purple shirts and apparel. Every purple shirt helps share a message of remembrance, awareness, and hope.

Together, we remember, support, and stand against stigma.

08/22/2026

Their name proved to be true—Canco really does care! ❤️

A huge thank you to Canco Cares for generously providing delicious butter chicken that we were able to serve to evacuees during the recent wildfire response.

We were so grateful for the many local businesses and organizations that stepped up to care for people during such a difficult time. Thank you, Canco Cares, for being part of that incredible community response! ❤️

08/20/2026

When your event gets cancelled, most chefs pack up their knives. Chef Martin found a whole new crowd to cook for. ❤️

Chef Martin was scheduled to cook for an event when the fires hit, but with heavy smoke in the area, the event had to be cancelled. Rather than calling it a day, he offered to cook for evacuees instead.

And this wasn’t just any meal!

He arrived at the group lodging site in the morning, set up his mobile kitchen, and spent the day smoking meat and preparing an incredible gourmet meal for evacuees and the volunteers caring for them.

It was an amazing treat in the middle of a very difficult time.

Thank you, Chef Martin, for sharing your time, talent, and incredible food with everyone at group lodging. And if you ever have the opportunity to book this extraordinary chef for an event, we highly recommend him! ❤️

08/19/2026

Generosity showed up in a big way last week—and with a whole lot of shopping bags! ❤️

We are so grateful for the incredible generosity of Kelowna’s Sikh temples, the Sikh community and Khalsa Aid throughout the wildfire response.

Along with providing meals for evacuees, they learned that more than 60 people had left their homes without even a change of clothing—and they rallied. They went on quite the shopping spree, providing each person with brand-new sweaters, sweatpants, T-shirts, pyjama bottoms and shoes.

When you’ve suddenly found yourself with so little, there’s something special about receiving something brand new, chosen just for you.

We have such admiration for the generosity and compassion of the Sikh community and Khalsa Aid. While we come from different faith traditions, we have been united in something we share deeply: loving one another. ❤️

It has been a privilege to serve alongside each another.

08/18/2026

You did it, Okanagan! ❤️

By 10 a.m. this morning, we had all 47 suitcases we needed—and they are already in the hands of the recipients who will be taking them home to Mexico.

They were incredibly grateful and wanted us to pass along their heartfelt thanks to our community for caring for them during such a difficult time. Once again, you saw a need and responded. Thank you! ❤️

We do not need any more suitcases at this time.

If you would like to continue partnering with The Salvation Army as we care for those affected by the wildfires, you can make a financial donation through our website: www.okanagancentralsalvationarmy.ca

Gift cards can also be dropped off Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. at any of these locations:

📍 Community Services – Westbank
3531 Old Okanagan Highway

📍 Community Services – Rutland
200 Rutland Road South

📍 The Salvation Army
1480 Sutherland Avenue, Kelowna

If you have been affected by the wildfires and need support, please reach out to our Community Services office to make an appointment. Call 778-484-9790. We are here for you.

HOPE We give hope through the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. SERVICE We reach out to support others without discrimination. DIGNITY We respect and value each other, recognizing everyone’s worth. STEWARDSHIP We responsibly manage the resources entrusted to us. Westbank Thrift Store & Communit...

08/17/2026

Very early in our most recent Emergency Disaster Services deployment, our friends at Checkmate Cabs showed up with a vehicle packed full of donated items for us to share with evacuees. ❤️

We simply want to celebrate their generosity and kindness. It’s moments like these—local businesses and community members stepping up to care for their neighbours—that remind us just how strong our community really is.

Thank you, Checkmate Cabs, for showing up when it mattered. ❤️

08/17/2026

UPDATE——> we have all of the suitcases needed!!! Thank you community for your generosity!!!

Mission complete!

🧳 47 SUITCASES NEEDED! 🧳

We’re looking for 47 suitcases for migrant workers who were evacuated during the Summerland fires and are now preparing to return home to Mexico.

We’d love to make sure each person has a suitcase to take home. ❤️

Have a suitcase in good condition you can donate?

📍 The Salvation Army
1480 Sutherland Avenue, Kelowna
🕘 Monday–Wednesday | 9 AM–3 PM

47 people. 47 suitcases. Let’s send them home with a little extra care from our community. ❤️

If this post is still up, it means we are still are collecting.

08/16/2026

Millwood Custom Cabinetry you all are such great people!!
—>Picking up supplies to support those displaced by the fires
—>delivering the supplies to them
—>and donating your trailer for us to use this week!
🤩 Wow!
Thank you ☺️

08/16/2026

Secure-rite, we wouldn’t have got through the week without you and the seacans you donated for us to help manage all of the donations that came to us in support of evacuees! Thank you for your generosity and quick response!

08/16/2026

Thank you Safeway for your partnership and donating food we used to feed evacuees in our community!