Important events for this year’s annual Bow Valley Christmas Campaign (BVCSC) are fast approaching and there is an urgent need for local volunteers to lend a hand.
The community door-to-door food collection in Canmore by Royal LePage takes place next Thursday (Dec. 3), and requires 150 volunteers to help in collecting and packaging of donated items.
“We are always in need of volunteers, and our biggest need right now is for the Royal LePage Food Drive on Dec. 3,” said BVCSC organizer Janet Nystedt. “In all, 150 volunteers are needed to hit all of the neighbourhoods and to help with packaging and sorting.”
Monetary donations, along with toys and food, are always encouraged, with an emphasis on toy items for youth eight to 12 years old and teens.
“The community is incredibly generous, so we do get a lot of donations of toys and food to create hampers for our families in our communities who need a little extra help,” Nystedt said. “The toys that we are always in need of is for older kids because we get a pile of stuff for babies.
“We’re trying to get the word out to the community to focus on the older kids this year. We give ideas, very general ones that are listed on the BVCSC website, including musical instruments, craft kits and games.”
Nystedt pointed out youth enjoy shopping for themselves and suggests gift certificates for musical sites such as iTunes are a positive option.
“We don’t want to discourage receiving any toys or donations at all, and a lot of the time families like to go shopping together – it’s a way to get kids engaged and to help others. We get great feedback from families saying it’s a great way to get their own kids involved in the meaning of Christmas and giving to others,” Nystedt said.
“We don’t have any screening for our hamper applicants, there’s no financial needs requirements or anything like that; if you feel like you need a little extra help this year, give us a call and we do what we can with the money and donations that we have.
“We can’t be Santa for everybody, but maybe we can help during the season.
“Safeway and Save-On make it very easy, they have $5 and $10 prepackaged items that you can just pick up and put in the donation bin at the stores.”
The delivery date for this year’s BVCSC hampers is Dec. 22.
Visit www.christmasspiritcampaign.com for more information towards volunteering, donating and applying to be a recipient.
