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Diwali Dinner helps to fundraise for Kelowna charities

Many local charities are feeling the 91Ƶfinancial pinch right now91Ƶ
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Mohini Singh at the project Smile 23 last December. (Contributed)

The celebration of Diwali is a Hindu and Sikh festival that symbolizes the 91Ƶvictory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance91Ƶ.

And, one Kelowna charity is harnessing that light, to give back to other local non-profits in the area.

Founder of East Meets West Children91Ƶs Foundation Mohini Singh, is helping support Starbright after the facility was set to lose its funding in June of this year. While the Children91Ƶs Development Centre has been given a two-year extension of its service agreement with the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD), East Meets West handed over a cheque for $19,000 to show support for the organization in hopes the government will see the value for the community in continuing the facility.

91ƵOkanagan charities are feeling the pinch of financial hardship as donations. Just last night the Summerland Rotary Club thanked us as over the years we have helped them fill the necessary voids when it comes to fundraising,91Ƶ said Singh.

Singh91Ƶs charity, which was founded in 2008 and provides medical treatment and educational training for abandoned children and children of the working poor, also focuses on helping those at home. The charity donated $15,000 to the Child Advocacy Centre (CAC) for trauma counselling for sexual assault victims.

However, these donations from East Meets West are only made possible through the support of fundraisers such as the annual Diwali Dinner hosted by the charity. Last year East Meets West raised $140,000, and about $80,000 was donated to charities in the Okanagan.

91ƵWe have been doing this for 15 years, we never realized we would last this long, but it91Ƶs because of the support we have received from the community,91Ƶ explained Singh. 91ƵOur focus is health and education for children and we do all we can for children who face challenges to lead their best lives.91Ƶ

Those challenges can include, health, medical needs, education and therapy.

Last year East Meets West Children91Ƶs Foundation and Access Dental Centre in Kelowna, joined together to help 23 kids with a healthy smile. Those aged six to 12 who may not have dental coverage got their teeth cleaned and had a checkup at no cost during the project Smile 23.

Mike Hill a board member with East Meets West and Kelowna Fire Fighter said, 91ƵWe can91Ƶt change the world but if we can change the world of one child then we have achieved our goals.91Ƶ

READ MORE: Local dealership 91Ƶrevving engines for our heroes91Ƶ with car show in Kelowna



Jen Zielinski

About the Author: Jen Zielinski

I am a broadcast journalism graduate from BCIT and hold a bachelor of arts degree in political science and sociology from Thompson Rivers University. I enjoy volunteering with local organizations, such as the Okanagan Humane Society.
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