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Organizations helped more than 4000 people have a happy holiday

Jan 4, 2017 | 12:52 PM

LETHBRIDGE – Three Lethbridge organizations expressed their gratitude to the community for its continued support through this holiday season.

The Interfaith food bank, Lethbridge food bank and Salvation Army teamed up this year to serve over 1634 homes with food hampers, and deliver toys to 2030 children under the age of 17. Their original goal was set at 2200 households, a 30-per cent increase from 2015.

The organizations say a total of 4242 individuals were served, which is a six-per cent increase, but a 15-per cent jump in the number of children they helped have a happy holiday.
 
However, it remains unclear why there were over 150 requests for Christmas food hampers, but many households didn’t pick them up.  All three organizations agree it’s concerning that families may not have received the help they needed, but a jump in toy bundles suggests that many may have opted to ensure there were gifts under the tree for kids instead of additional food.
 
They also believe any combination of the following factors could have had a hand in why the overall target goal wasn’t reached:
 
– With more families requesting help, but fewer resources to go around, some thought help may not be available;
– News of shortages in other cities discouraged families from accessing resources, or it was found through other sources;
– Single, working people saw the largest increase in 2016, but they may have joined extended family and didn’t require the hamper after all;
– Other agencies, churches, family or friends stepped up;
– Facebook groups and other social networks have become a more preferable source for those that don’t normally access food bank services;
– New programs in rural areas, like Pincher Creek and Milk River, picked up some of the slack.

Unfortunately, as the economy continues to slump and the holiday rush is now over, both food banks and the Salvation Army expect to fall short quickly this year. That said, they are determined to get out actively recruiting food and cash donations through 2017.