Do Some Good

Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union

Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union, offers British Columbians throughout the Okanagan, Similkameen and Thompson valleys innovative products, an extensive branch...

333 employees on Do Some Good

We're committed to giving back to the community!
View the Pledge

184 Main Street

Penticton, British Columbia

V2A 8G7

250-487-7337

http://www.valleyfirst.com

community@valleyfirst.com

Causes we care about

Top company causes

Food & Nutrition
Social Services
Financial Literacy

Top employee causes

Animal Welfare
Food & Nutrition
Health & Well-being
Environment
Financial Literacy

Animal Welfare
Food & Nutrition
Health & Well-being
Environment
Financial Literacy

Organizations our employees volunteer with

See all organizations...

Our average annual contributions

$1M

Dollars Donated

835

Hours Logged by Employees

$16K

Monetary Equivalent of Hours

Social Mission

Our social, environmental and people practices are integral to strengthening our communities and ensuring that in years to come, our credit union, our members and employees, live, work and play in a healthy and sustainable community.

Some of the organizations we support

Kamloops Food Bank

First West Foundation

KCR Community Resources

Critteraid Animal Sanctuary

The Penticton Salvation Army Food Bank

PacificSport Okanagan

See all organizations...

What people are saying about us

A number of Valley First staff have supported us this Fall with our Financial Literacy programs. All the volunteers from Valley First are awesome! Smart, committed, and well-prepared to make a difference in our local community for Okanagan-area teens. JABC is proud to have such a great support from Valley First employees, we always look forward to seeing them in the classroom!

It is great to see a Good Company, such as Valley First, giving back to their local community. Local acts of kindness, volunteerism and donations help to make our country the amazing place that it is today. A big thanks to Valley First for their contributions to building a stronger and more connected community.

Valley First is a wonderful community-minded organization with wonderful staff. We have had the pleasure of receiving their support to achieve our mission of cultivating community through local food. Their support has helped us continue to ensure that more people in the Okanagan access healthy fruits and vegetables, that less food is wasted, and that more people are connected to their local food system. Thanks to them, we were able to provide more opportunities for a meaningful and inclusive volunteer experience. How wonderful to be able to mobilize some of the most vulnerable people in our community to take part in a healthy community activity! Thank you so much for all that you do Valley First!

Stories of our community involvement

Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union

Volunteering her time as baby hugger for Beyond the Blues Postpartum Support group at The Bridge Youth & Family Services Society is just one-way April Martin gives her time to help families in need. “Without April's support we would not be able to offer childminding services for our moms experiencing postpartum depression and anxiety,” says Kelly Paley, Director of Fund Development at The Bridge Youth & Family Services.
Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union is delighted to announce April as the 3rd recipient of the 2021 SimpleGenerosity Volunteer Award for her exceptional volunteerism. She’s known as a passionate philanthropist who does so much good for the children and families in her community through her work with PurKids Foundation, Mamas for Mamas and The Bridge Youth & Family Services. Congratulations on your award!

First West Foundation

10d

The third wave of First West Foundation 2021 Community Response Fund funding has hit the streets. We celebrate an additional $81K landing in communities across British Columbia with 10 more grants sent out to organizations making such a meaningful impact during COVID-19.
Curious about this wave of grantees and the previous ones? Be sure to check out the link for all of the Envision Financial, a division of First West Credit Union Community Endowment, Island Savings a division of First West Credit Union Community Endowment and Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union Community Endowment recipient details: https://bit.ly/3uhhACl
Envision Financial, a division of First West Credit Union & Enderby & District Financial, a division of First West CU region friends, funding is still available, please visit https://bit.ly/3c5BjgA to apply.

Susan Byrom

11d

What is up with all this fabric? My sewing machine has been humming the past few weeks with two special volunteer projects. At Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union we're passionate about volunteering and we're finding new ways to support our community.

I started sewing years ago with my mom--we would spend hours in the fabric store, searching for the perfect match for our project. These fabrics will find a new life and purpose when they are transformed, donated and gifted to some outstanding volunteers! Stay tuned for the finished treat! #leadwell

Susan Byrom

19d

Volunteering may look different for many but here at Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union we’re hopping along to share some Easter cheer! Over 150 cards have been created for our local senior’s residence. Seniors in assisted living will each receive a handmade card with a little treat, and our friends in extended care will receive one of the special tent cards on their dinner tray.

Join us and celebrate kindness all year long--adopt a local charity in your community! #SimpleGenerosity

Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union

23d

Food security remains top of mind at Discovery House with second $6,000 response fund grant.

Proud to grant another $6,000 to Penticton Recovery Resource Society (Discovery House) this year through our First West Foundation Community Response Fund to bolster food resources & training for clients to ensure food security as part of their Discover Healthy Living program. Clients & alumni share their labour, resources, garden harvests & expertise with other non-profits, seniors & families in the community.
Read the 2020 funding impact from Discovery House and the amazing work they're doing in Penticton.

2020 Funding Impact

The funds were used to provide equipment, training, and supplies necessary for clients to participate in gardening and nutritious food preparation groups. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we experienced a 75% reduction in food donations but the funding from this grant covered the majority of that gap. This allowed us to fulfill our mandate to provide our clients with nutritious food options, to enhance our clients' recovery with real life skills training that clients took with them upon their transition to independent living and employment. It also fostered community connection between participants including our clients, the volunteer community gardeners, our guest chefs, and even the volunteer drivers that took participants grocery shopping. Even though some of this connection was done through technology aided meetings we were able to adapt the program and focus on optimal delivery rather than seeking resources, due to in large part to the funding we received from Valley First.

First West Foundation

25d

Today we celebrate the second wave of First West Foundation's Community Response Fund recipients - 14 more to be exact and another $130,500 going into our community charities on the frontlines of support during the ongoing global pandemic.
Curious about this wave of grantees? Be sure to check out the link for all of the Envision Financial, a division of First West Credit Union Community Endowment, Island Savings a division of First West Credit Union Community Endowment and Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union Community Endowment recipient details: https://bit.ly/3ty2JDb
Stay tuned for all the excitement as we share the good in our communities and the funds and programs helping those in need.
We are here to support you. Missed the first few waves? Fear not, there is still time to apply for the Community Response Fund: https://bit.ly/3c5BjgA

Stay tuned, later this month another wave of grants will roll out!

Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union

1mo

We’re excited to announce that Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union has launched our latest #SimpleGenerosity million dollar program--first up, we're helping families thrive.

Enter to win up to $2,500 by inspiring us with a family story. We’ll pay-it-forward with $140,000 in community donations! Together, let’s give good things! To enter and learn more, visit https://bit.ly/3eLePon

First West Foundation

1mo

Is your organization looking for funding? First West Foundation is here to lift-up our #communities with the $500,000 Community Response Fund designed to support local charities through the ongoing #COVID19 pandemic in all regions: Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union, Island Savings a division of First West Credit Union, Enderby & District Financial, a division of First West CU and Envision Financial, a division of First West Credit Union.
The first wave has been distributed and the second will go out next week but funds are still available. Find out more about this year’s Community Response Fund or to apply today visit: http://bit.ly/3rknSiZ

Meals on Wheels

1mo

Thank you Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union...
We have been the beneficiary of several grants from Valley First which have enabled us to provide uninterrupted service to seniors and housebound individuals in our community. Susan Byrom , the Executive Director followed this financial assistance with her "Acts of Kindness" enlisting some of her friends and colleagues in providing cheerful notes and cards for many of our clients. She personally created beautiful book marks as well for them. We received a number of calls from clients expressing their appreciation and enjoyment of these gifts. Susan, you and your employer have truly demonstrated the heart of our community. Thank you. Marion Bremner, Manager Meals on Wheels.

Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union

2mo

First West Foundation and the Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union Community Endowment are here to support you and our communities. If your charitable organization has been impacted by COVID-19, we have an additional $500,000 to support local charities through the ongoing #COVID19 pandemic. Grants will fund community initiatives promoting resiliency, addressing food security and hunger-related programming.
The first wave of grants will be selected and sent out shortly but funding is still available. To find out more about this year’s Community Response Fund or to apply today visit: http://bit.ly/3rknSiZ

We're committed to giving back to the community!
View the Pledge

184 Main Street

Penticton, British Columbia

V2A 8G7

250-487-7337

http://www.valleyfirst.com

community@valleyfirst.com

Causes we care about

Top company causes