The Christmas Spirit campaign has kicked into high gear with hampers sorted and packed on Saturday (Dec. 17) for distribution later today.
Volunteers are still needed, said Kris Hielema, campaign chairperson.
“We’re still needing volunteers, for both the dropoff to Morley and then delivery night as well, so if anyone that’s not getting a hamper can assist, we would love it,” she said Saturday (Dec. 17).
“We’re still taking applications for hampers and we’re still looking for donations,” she added. “Our cutoff for toys and food is done, but any monetary donations would be a great asset at this time.
“We’re halfway to our goal, sitting at $18,000 and our goal is $35,000,” she said, noting they are confident the campaign will reach its target.
“We have a wonderful crew today to help get the hampers packed and we deliver them on the 22nd.”
As of Saturday, there were 208 applications for hampers, with 90 going to Morley.
“We are up considerably from last year on the Canmore side of things,” she said. “We figured that was a potential possibility, because of the economy.
“The community is struggling and we know that. so any of the donations we’re getting – monetary, food or toys – is greatly appreciated. We can’t thank the community enough for coming forward and helping us.
“From what I understand, this year the numbers are pretty high in Banff too. We know we’ll be helping 300 plus children have Christmas this year, so it’s a good feeling for this kind of event.”
Cindy Overland of Morley was at the stuffing event to help.
“There’s a great need in Morley right now,” she said. “There’s no industry and there’s been a lot of layoffs this year.
“It’s always very difficult in a rural area, we don’t have grocery stores and it’s very hard to do a food drive. We’re very grateful for the support that the Christmas Spirit gives us.”
Priscilla Janes has been volunteering with the campaign for eight years.
“I just like to help other people and be helpful to the community, to fill a need,” she said. “We need to give back, and I feel very fortunate, so I like to help people feel Christmas is a merrier season.”
Hielema echoed this sentiment.
“Many of our volunteers are here to help give back to the community and it’s awesome, especially at this time of year when there’s so many families struggling,” she said.
“Last year, we had one family where the mother had the dates mixed up and she had to tell her child she didn’t believe there was a Santa Claus, and that broke her heart, and then we came and she was able to say ‘Yes, there is a Santa’ when all of this arrived on the doorstep.
“So that’s what we want to do, we don’t want anybody not believing, and that’s the important part of all this.”
To volunteer or make donations, visit the campaign headquarters at 1410 Railway Ave. or call 403-609-3536.
