Distillery launches meals campaign to help missions

Non-profit agencies in Vernon and Kelowna will benefit from an annual campaign crafted by a local distillery.

Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery will launch its Holiday Hot Meals campaign on Nov. 24, where the distillery donates three hot meals for every spirit advent calendar, or full-size bottle sold, to the Upper Room Mission in Vernon and the Kelowna Gospel Mission in Kelowna.

The family-run business started the charitable initiative in 2019 in an effort to give back to members in their local communities who they felt could use a bit of a lift during the holiday season. The campaign is now in its forth year, and is continuing to grow thanks to the tremendous “buy local” movement which is alive and well in the Okanagan Valley.

Tyler Dyck, CEO of Okanagan Spirits, said they kick off the campaign each year on Black Friday weekend to put a different spin on the usual mad consumerism that is wrapped up in that day and the whole holiday spending push.

“It’s really quite simple; we “pay it forward” by donating on behalf of those who wish to treat those on their holiday shopping list to a fine whisky, gin or vodka, or even that perfect holiday spirits advent calendar, but also like to know that their purchase goes towards making the holidays a little bit nicer for those that are less fortunate,” Dyck said.

Over the last few years, Okanagan Spirits has been able to donate the funds to provide thousands of hot meals to the local Missions in each of the communities where their distilleries operate.