Thanks to Food Banks Canada, we now have a freezer safe door installed to safely store all of our perishable items. Our freezer has on average 1500-3000lbs of frozen food that is distributed to Cherryville residents through monthly hampers and food security programs. We are so grateful to have this new door installed because we no longer have to worry about losing any perishable items due to inadequate equipment. Thank you again Food Banks Canada, we are absolutely thrilled with our new door!
In October 2025, Cherryville Community Food and Resource Society was unexpectedly acknowledged in the house by MLA Steve Morissette. An incredibly beautiful tribute, CCFRS was recognized for the dedication and growing impact the organization has on the Cherryville community. Check out the post and video below.
Steve Morissette MLA for Kootenay-Monashee
Today I shared in the house a remarkable organization serving the Cherryville, B.C., Canada, the Cherryville Community Food and Resource Society. A small but mighty centre that is proof that when people care deeply about one another, they can build something truly special.
A place where practical support meets genuine kindness. There’s a free income tax clinic, food security programs and help with everything from benefits to advanced care planning.
But what makes the Cherryville Resource Centre so special is that it’s not just about services; it’s about belonging. For seniors, that sense of belonging comes through in the seniors services and compassionate communities program. For those living with disabilities, Cherryville’s outreach team helps navigate the often complicated process of applying for supports.
Of course, the Cherryville Resource Centre is investing in the future of the community through its youth and family programs. They invite the community to get involved, to volunteer, to donate or collaborate. The result is a web of support that’s as strong as it is caring.
Behind all of this are the people, the staff, the volunteers and neighbours who make Cherryville shine. They are the beating heart of Cherryville’s commitment to taking care of one another.
To everyone at the Cherryville Resource Centre, the Cherryville Community Food and Resource Society and the board of directors, thank you. Thank you for showing us what’s possible when we put people first. Your work reminds us that rural doesn’t mean remote. It means resilient. And Cherryville proves that when we invest in community, we build a stronger, kinder British Columbia for everyone.
Click the link below to watch the full video:
We are absolutely speechless by the continual support we are receiving from organizations both locally and provincially. We would like to formally thank you Food Banks BC, Dairy Farmers of BC, North Okanagan Regional District, Kamloops Okanagan Dairy Association, and the Safe Seniors Strong Communities through United Way of the Lower Mainland. You are a major reason why we have been able to continually support our community despite the hardships and obstacles prevalent from this global pandemic.
We cannot express enough the deep gratitude we feel. During these uncertain times, it is the love and support and generosity of others that help communities thrive and we have been fortunate and honored to receive an abundance of support from our local and provincial organizations.
The Cherryville Community Food Bank thanks all of you, from the very bottom of our hearts, as we are able to expand our reach within our community and surrounding areas to those who are at risk and to those who need this support more than ever. Thank you.
Living in a rural area makes it difficult for youth to find work. There are not many job opportunities when living in Cherryville and other remote towns. Unless you have a reliable ride to and from town, where there are many job openings for younger people, then it is difficult to find work. With the lack of job availability in rural towns, youth are not able to gain work experience that is essential for their future. The Canada Summer Jobs Program helps create more job opportunities. They target work suitable for the youth population, and work to teach them about their rights as an employee. This has made a huge difference for the youth in our community, providing job openings suited for them.
This summer, myself (Haylee Benet) and Senay Thompson were employed with Cherryville Community Food & Resources. Having youth as part of the team brings new perspective and ideas to the organization. It is important for the next generation to gain proper work experience, and learn important skills needed to be in the workforce. Senay has been working with Renske in the community gardens since May. They have been cultivating the garden and have been able to supply an outstanding amount of produce for the food bank. Each week there is a large assortment of fresh produce to give out with hampers, cultivated by Senay and Renske.
In an interview I conducted with Senay, she expressed that she is very grateful for this job opportunity close to home. She feels she has gained important work experience for her future. Senay has learned how to apply for a job, and now feels confident for future job application processes. Communicating with her coworkers and boss has helped her build workplace communication skills she will continue to use throughout her life. Senay has had a wonderful summer maintaining the community gardens with Renske and is thankful for the experience in the workforce she has gained.
My name is Haylee Bennett, I just graduated and have had an amazing summer, learning workplace skills before heading into future careers. At Cherryville Community Food & Resources I have been helping with food hampers, social media, and the senior’s meal program. Every week I help Barb build and hand out food hampers, as well as keep the food bank clean and organized. I have also helped keep our social media up to date and have worked on various projects for our webpage throughout the summer. For the senior’s dinners, I help prepare and distribute the meals to seniors in our community. Towards the end of the summer, I started going to the Lake Country food bank to learn about food recovery. I have been going twice a week and have gotten to learn the processes involved in food recovery, which we hope to incorporate into our organization!
Overall, I have been able to gain a great deal of work experience with this job. I feel more confident in my communication skills, learning from involvement in the community and communicating with my coworkers and supervisors. Going through the job application process has prepared me for future careers and I now feel more confident than ever moving into the workforce. I am very grateful for the opportunity to work with Cherryville Community Food and Resources this summer, and I am very thankful for all the important skills I was able to practice for my future!
Hi, my name is Haylee Bennett! I am 18 and just graduated from Charles Bloom Secondary School this year. In the future I would like to become an RMT (registered massage therapist). I am currently working to save money for the course and hope to start next year. I enjoy volunteering in the community in my free time. I have helped at the seniors dinners, food bank, and programs run through the elementary school since I was in grade 4. I also enjoy baking and reading in my spare time, as well as going on hikes.
This position was funded by Canada Summer Jobs. If you are interested in employee or volunteer opportunities within our organization, please contact our office at 250-547-0089 for more information.