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Amid tough times, Christmas hamper campaign gets underway

Nov 1, 2016 | 12:09 PM

LETHBRIDGE – It’s already time to think about the less fortunate for Christmas – and there will be a lot more this year.

For a tenth year, the Salvation Army, Lethbridge Food Bank, and Interfaith Food Bank are teaming up for their annual campaign, and are now taking registrations. And Danielle McIntyre, executive director of Interfaith Food Bank, says the economic downturn is already bringing more people through their doors.

“Every month we are seeing an average of an additional 100 families at each food bank,” she said. “At Christmastime we usually serve a lot of extra people, and so for our Christmas hampers this year we are projecting an additional 500 households (more) than we normally do.”

That translates to 2,200 housholds, 3,500 adults and 2,000 children. To add to the burden, a flooded basement at the Salvation Army earlier in the year destroyed most of the toys that were aleady being stored.

Deborah Bakker, family services director with the Salvation Army, said they’re looking for a wide range of toys and items, not just for young children but through the teen years as well.

“We are going to look for Fisher-Price toys, Paw Patrol, DreamWorks Trolls, Nerf, Star Wars, Pokemon, Lego, gift cards, toiletries, hair stuff, books, games, craft items, skateboards, (and) basketballs,” she said.

“And the other rule of thumb is… if you have kids in your home, if you have children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, you know what they like for Christmas. So if you’re shopping and buying for them, perhaps you can pick up one of those items and bring it down for a family in need.”

McIntyre said when donating food, they’re hoping people will contribute special items as well for hampers — chickens, turkey, and hams, for example, and cranberry sauce, stuffing mix, and snacks. Cash donations are also welcomed, and can be stretched farther.

“We can actually take that money and spread it and get more than what the families in Lethbridge can, and we can purchase more food with that,” said Maral Kiani Tari, executive director of the Lethbridge Food Bank Society. “Also we would encourage volunteers. We need them during Christmastime.”

Families can register during the month of November. Existing clients are encouraged to do so when they pick up their regular monthly hamper, while newcomers are asked to provide photo ID, health cards, names and ages of household members, proof of address, and proof of income.

All three organizations are working with a common website, www.christmashope.ca, to provide information.