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Christmas Spirit revived in Bow Valley

Aimed at helping disadvantaged families throughout the Bow Valley make it through the holidays, the Christmas Spirit Campaign officially kicked off Nov. 21. The campaign is spearheaded by Canmorite Kris Hielema.

Aimed at helping disadvantaged families throughout the Bow Valley make it through the holidays, the Christmas Spirit Campaign officially kicked off Nov. 21.

The campaign is spearheaded by Canmorite Kris Hielema.

“Our goal is to raise $35,000 this year, to make sure that families in the valley that are struggling at this time of year have toys and a hot Christmas dinner on their table,” she said. “ We also give seniors that are alone a little pick-me-up basket.

“We help out in Morley as well, we send 90 hampers out there, and then any singles around that are alone at Christmas, they receive a gift card from us.”

This year, the Christmas Spirit Campaign is functioning out of an office at 1410 Railway Ave., beside LifeWorks Gym, in Canmore and has several events planned, including the Royal Lepage Food Drive, which takes place today (Dec. 1).

“We’ve got so many things going on,” Hielema. “We’re really excited with the Royal Lepage Food Drive – it’s in their 20th year – Deb Algeo of Royal Lepage created that event.

“We were pulling out our statistics from 20 years ago, and we started out with maybe 12 hampers, and last year we had over 210, so it’s come a long way to growing into a major component of the Christmas spirit in this area, so it’s just amazing to see how far we’ve come to achieve the goals to make Christmas a little brighter for everyone in the valley.”

While the campaign has done good work, it’s disheartening to know so many people are in need, she said.

“It’s really hard to get our heads wrapped around those numbers and so many people… When I started working for a homebuilder in this community and I presented the issues that we face and that we’re helping so many people, they said, ‘there’s a problem? We don’t see it,’ and I said, ‘no, you don’t see it, but those are the people who are serving your lunches at your restaurants, that are your trades guides. They’re struggling to put things together and to make things happen for their families.’ They were really taken back.”

While poverty in Canmore may not be overly visible, it is there she stressed, and this year the campaign is seeing an increased number of applications for support.

“You really don’t see it in this community, where the basement suites are where these families are trying to pay their major rent and put food on the table,” she said. They’ll come to us at the food bank at Christmas when they realize they just can’t do it all, and it breaks your heart.

“We’re definitely seeing an increase in applicants asking for assistance and we’ve got a long way to go, but this community has been wonderful to us and has supported us in the past.”

The order of priority is today’s food drive.

“We need volunteers for the Royal Lepage Food Drive, and we need as many bodies as we can get to go door to door,” said Hielema. “If you’re not home, leave your food on your doorstep and we’ll get someone there to pick it up.

“If you’re looking for a way to teach your children about the spirit of Christmas, this makes a great family event.”

For those wanting to get involved with the Royal Lepage Food Drive, Algeo can be reached at 403-678-5113. For other inquiries, or to volunteer or make donations, visit the campaign headquarters or call 403-609-3536.

Other upcoming events include a sale at Scotia Bank, Dec. 9; Nakoda Food Bank Fundraiser at Safeway, Dec. 10; Brewster Travel Canada ‘Stuff The Bus’ Food and Toy Drive, Dec. 12; Hamper Preparation Day, Dec. 17 and Hamper Presentation Day, Dec. 22.

As to what kind of donations the campaign is looking for, a variety of things will work, said Hielema.

“It doesn’t matter, toys are great, money is awesome too. Food – making sure it’s good quality food, like peanut butter and pastas – is really important. Fruits and vegetables. We try to give a week’s worth of groceries as well, and we ask people to watch the expiry dates – last year we had to throw out 1,800 pounds of expired food.

“I do what I do because I know in the end we’ll have helped so many families have the Christmas that they so want and didn’t think was attainable. This is why we’re here and that’s what we do and it’s an amazing cause to work with.”


Rocky Mountain Outlook

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