Sunrise Rotary Club and Interior Savings have joined forces to organize a new three-day family festival in Kelowna’s City Park from Sept. 16 to 18.
Called Interior Savings Sunrise Rotary Ribfest 2016, the event is being touted as a festival of flavour, family and fun, but according to Kelowna Sunrise Rotary Club past-president Bill Reynolds, there’s more to it than that.
Reynolds says the club’s goal for this event is to help build a stronger, more empowered community as festival proceeds will be used to support all the work Rotary is doing, with the main beneficiary this year to be Shoe Bank Canada.
“Look down at your feet,” said Reynolds. “If you’re at work right now, you’re likely seeing a pair of shoes specifically for the work you do—work boots, perhaps dress shoes or a nice pair of heels. Have you ever considered what impact those shoes have on your life?”
Reynolds is encouraging Kelowna to imagine not having that pair of shoes, or being in a position of choosing between purchasing a pair of shoes or buying groceries.
Unfortunately, he says, it’s not an uncommon scenario and it impacts individuals of all ages, including families, right here in our very own community.
RibFest is looking to raise money and shoes for this important cause while also giving Kelowna a great new, free family festival. The festival will feature five internationally renowned Ribbers competing for the honour of Best Ribs and Best Sauce. Attendees will have the opportunity to taste and vote for their favourites.
The Mainstage, sponsored by Chances, Orchard Ford and Kelowna Now, will feature local entertainers including the Hip Replacements and Cod Gone Wild. And, of course, this family-friendly event wouldn’t be complete without the Save-On-Foods Kids Zone, which will include balloon sculpture, face-painting, crafts, games bouncy castles and inflatable slides.
Interior Savings is calling on area residents to come out and enjoy the event, support this great cause, and to take a look in their closets for gently used shoes that could make a big difference in someone’s life.
“Many of us take the pair of shoes on our feet for granted,” said Kathy Conway, CEO of Interior Savings. “Yet a pair of shoes can be the difference between getting that job, or not. It can be the difference between your child participating in organized sports or having the confidence and self-esteem to tackle whatever challenges they may face at school.
"When you consider the implications, it’s clear the impact a single pair of shoes has on an individual’s health and well-being—and on the strength and vibrancy of our community.”
Shoes can be donated at any Interior Savings branch or any local business where you see a Shoe Bank Canada donation box.
Kelowna shoe store owner Jim Belshaw, a major advocate for the Shoe Bank Canada initiative locally, says there is an urgent need for work shoes, particularly work boots, and school shoes.
For more information visit www.ribfestkelowna.com. Other media sponsors include Global Okanagan, Kelowna Daily Courier, Kelowna Capital News and Country 100.7/K96.3 radio stations.