Summerland’s Penny Lane Bargain Outlet stores, which provided funding for the youth of the community, will close their doors at the end of May.
The Summerland Charity Shops Society announced the closures on Monday.
The first of the two shops, on Victoria Road North, opened in July, 2002, with a second location, on Main Street, opening after that.
In the past, Sears Canada had been the supplier for Penny Lane, but that relationship came to an end at the end of October.
“We are very thankful to Sears Canada for their many years of partnership with Penny Lane,” the society said in a news release. “Without the support of Sears, Penny Lane would have never been able to help the youth and groups of the South Okanagan.”
Once the stores are closed, the society plans to find tenants for both locations.
The society also plans to establish the Penny Lane Foundation, in order to continue assisting the youth of Summerland.
At present, Penny Lane provides funding to youth programs as well as two youth counsellors at Summerland Secondary School, in partnership with the Okanagan Skaha School District.
The society also supports the Breakfast Club programs at Giant’s Head Elementary School and Summerland Middle School.
The members of the board of directors are Orv Robson, chair; Bruce Hallquist, Allan Fabbi, Rick Thorpe and Scott Boswell.
“I’ve enjoyed every minute,” Hallquist said. “We’ve had a great board of directors.”
He added that Art Sewell, the former chair of the society, had a vision for a 10-year tenure for the charity shops, with a legacy fund set up after that time.
Robson said the society will continue to provide funding for the two counsellors at Summerland Secondary School for the next year.
“We feel that they provide a great service to our youth,” he said.
He added that the two outlets had good staff and were well received by the community.
Distribution of funds from Penny Lane
Over the past 11 years, the Summerland Charity Shops Society has given $2 million to the youth and organizations in Summerland and the region.
The following are some of the organizations which have received funding from the society.
o Orca Swim Club
o Good Will Shakespeare Festival
o Girl Guides of Canada – Summerland District
o Summerland Pathfinders
o Summerland Asset Development Initiative
o SADI Unity Youth Centre
o South Okanagan Montessori School Society
o Scouts Canada – Summerland
o Summerland Dry Grad
o Summerland Food Bank
o Summerland Minor Hockey
o Isagehe-Okanagan Project
o National Sport Trust Fund – BC Branch
o Summerland Secondary School Leadership Group
o Summerland Rotary Club
o Giant’s Head Elementary Breakfast for Learning
o Summerland Royalty Program
o Curves – Breast Cancer Awareness
o NeighbourLink
o Volunteer Canada
o Summerland Middle School
o Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation
o Agur Lake Camp Society
o Work Experience Program – Summerland Secondary School
o Special Olympics
o Summerland Air Cadets
o Youth Support Worker Wages (2)
o South Okanagan Women in Needs Society
o Summerland Fire Department toy campaign
o Rotary Okanagan International Children’s Festival
o Penticton Elvis Festival
o Giant’s Head Elementary Playground Committee
o Trout Creek Elementary Playground Committee
o Okanagan College Foundation
o South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation
o Southern Interior Rotary Lodge – Cancer Society
o Whitevalley Community Resource Centre – Lumby
o Penticton Young Writers
o Penticton Writers and Publishers Raiser a Reader
o British Columbia Youth Write Camp
o Penticton and Area Crisis Line
o Parkdale Tenants Association
o Canadian Food for Children – Okanagan Division
o Teen Junction – Vernon
o Summerland Community Response Network
o District of Summerland
o Kid Sport Fund (So All Kids Can Play)
o Glenfir School
o Summerland Health Care Auxiliary
o SSS Students Involved
o Summerland Secondary School Bursary Program
o Penticton & District Community Resources Society
o Supported Child Development Program – South Okanagan
o Carmi Elementary School – Penticton
o école Entre Lacs – Penticton
o Motivation Speaker Series (through schools)
o Parenting Workshops (How to Drug Proof Your Kids)
o Navy League Cadets
o Holy Cross School Bus Fund
o Vimy Ridge Secondary School Trip
o South Okanagan Cubs and Beavers
o South Okanagan Ventures
o South Okanagan Youth Soccer Association
o Kelowna and District Women’s Shelter
o Critteraid Youth Education Program
o B.C. Minor Baseball
o Our Lady of Lourdes School Committee