Picking charities for donated cash proves hard for Vernon Council

"THIS IS HARD BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH NEED."

VERNON – Three local organizations will benefit from money generated through Vernon’s kindness meters and Food for Fines program.

Vernon council decided Monday, Dec. 12, to split the $4,252 raised in the Food for Fines program — which ran from Dec. 4 to Dec. 10 and saw all revenue from parking fines earmarked for charity — amongst two groups. The Upper Room Mission will receive 80 per cent of the proceeds, and the All Saints Anglican Church, which runs a Saturday street lunch program, will get 20 per cent.

The $1,521 generated through the city’s kindness meters will be donated to the Vernon Salvation Army.

A number of local organizations were identified as possible recipients, and council had a tough time deciding who should get the cash.

“This is hard because there’s so much need,” Coun. Juliette Cunningham said.

Coun. Dalvir Nahal suggested picking an organization out of a hat, an idea that was also supported by Coun. Brian Quiring.

“I think it’s unfair to pick one over another,” Nahal said.

Mayor Akbal Mund favoured the idea of donating the funds to different groups each year.

Coun. Catherine Lord felt the whole process of selecting a charity was “cherry picking” and thinks the Food for Fines program should be discontinued.

“There are so many organizations in our community that need funds, that I don’t think this is something our council should be doing,” Lord said.

She believes donating to charity is something best left up to individuals in the community, but Coun. Scott Anderson, who brought the Food for Fines idea forward on behalf of a local resident, disagreed.

“We can’t fix everything, but we’re doing some good that otherwise would not have been done,” Anderson said.

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