The YKAStrong campaign – created with the onset of COVID-19 – has donated $1,270 to the Kamloops Food Bank to help support people who need an extra bit of help managing the pandemic.
The donation was possible because of a partnership with Visual Signs & Printing, the company which produced window decals for businesses around the city.
Monica Dickinson, the Director of Industry Relations & Communications with Tourism Kamloops says Visual Signs embraced the opportunity, which allowed them do donate money to support the Kamloops community.
“And when given the opportunity Visual Signs said we would love to partner with you on the project and from that there was some funds that, I’m not going to say left over, but there were some funds left from that initiative,” she said.
Dickinson noted the donation aligns well with the Support Kamloops campaign that was launched earlier this week to inspire Kamloops residents to support local businesses as restrictions are eased by the province.
“I think when we were given the opportunity to give back to the community the conversation was how can we give the greatest good with the biggest impact and have a full community lens on that support and just through those conversations the Kamloops Food Bank came to mind very quickly,” she said, noting that YKAStrong exists to provide a streamlined communications and engagement strategy to address the effects of COVID-19 on Kamloops businesses.
“While the priority for this group has been establishing online resources and a united voice in support of business during the pandemic, the group has also identified the importance of highlighting remarkable Kamloopsians and service to the community.”
YKAStrong is comprised of leaders representing the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce, the City of Kamloops, Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association (KCBIA), North Shore Business Improvement Association (NSBIA), Venture Kamloops, Community Futures – Thompson Country, Kamloops Airport, Thompson Rivers University, Tk’emlups te Secwepemc, and Tourism Kamloops.