Organizers of the Christmas Hope campaign with Lethbridge mayor Chris Spearman during the event's kick-off on Monday, November 16. (Lethbridge News Now)

By Justin Goulet

Christmas Hope campaign aiming to deliver holiday joy amid the pandemic

Nov 16, 2020 | 12:12 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – For the 14^th consecutive year, five local agencies are coming together for the holidays.

The Christmas Hope campaign held its kick-off event Monday morning at Lethbridge City Hall.

The initiative sees the Lethbridge Food Bank, Interfaith Food Bank, Lethbridge Family Services Angel Tree, My City Care Shop of Wonders and the Salvation Army work together to provide Christmas supplies to around 1,800 adults and 4,000 children in the region.

Christmas hampers are made available for those in need, as well as toy bundles. The hampers and bundles are put together thanks to donations from members of the community.

“We’re making sure that anyone who needs help in the community can be provided with a December hamper,” said Danielle McIntyre, executive director of the Interfaith Food Bank.

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“It also includes all the special items for a Christmas meal, like turkey, ham, chicken, stuffing, all of those special things for a Christmas meal and then gifts for the children for underneath the tree.”

Some of the most wanted food items include canned vegetables, cereal, pork and beans, peanut butter and jams.

Gift suggestions for the toy bundles include Lego kits, books and action figures.

McIntyre said this year, they’ve added a few more options specifically for adults, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We know that mental health is a big issue this year. We want to make sure that people still use the holidays and opportunity to stay connected, even though it may look differently this year,” she said.

McIntyre added that organizers are expecting a slight increase in those seeking assistance this holiday season, however, the pandemic has resulted in a year of uncertainty and many unknowns.

“We don’t know what COVID is going to bring so we always tend to sort of over-prepare and we’ve been very fortunate in the last many years to have this support coming in when we need it,” she remarked.

“We will make the cries if we need the help and we’re really encouraging community members to not be ashamed to ask this year because this is a year like no other and there are a lot of circumstances why someone may run a little bit short this year and we want to ensure that there’s absolutely no shame and all of our community is behind us in making sure that everyone can have a merry Christmas.”

The registration for toy bundles is on now until December 23, 2020. All toy bundles will be distributed through the Salvation Army, Angel Tree and Shop of Wonders.

Each organization will provide gift bundles worth $60 to $80.

The Salvation Army’s toy distribution will take place December 15-17 via pick-up by appointment; the Shop of Wonders distribution will be December 1 to 24^th by appointment and the Angel Tree toy bundle distribution takes place by delivery from December 14 to 18.

Christmas hamper registration is on now with distribution taking place between December 7 and 23, 2020.

McIntyre said the pandemic has caused some changes, including for the toy distribution.

“In the past, we had a couple of options where families could go in and choose the items for their children, which with gathering restrictions and whatnot, it’s not logistical for us this year,” she explained.

“We have had to add some delivery options for people who are isolated or unable to come out for either pick up of their toys or for the hamper distribution.”

She said the volunteers the agencies usually have are older, so McIntyre said staff have been “juggling things a little bit more” this year than in the past.

“We all have faith and are confident that we will be able to provide Christmas Hope to everyone.”

The campaign kick-off also included the lightning of the Christmas tree in the foyer of Lethbridge City Hall by mayor Chris Spearman.

Lethbridge mayor Chris Spearman with the lit up tree in the foyer of Lethbridge City Hall on Monday, November 16. (Lethbridge News Now)

“It’s wonderful to have all the organizations working together instead of competing, so there’s that collaboration,” Spearman said.

“All the donations will be shared and allocated to the different organizations.”

Spearman said Christmas Hope is a great way to reach out to those in need during the holiday season, noting there are many families suffering due to the pandemic.

“This is a way to reach out. It’s a way for people to demonstrate that they care and make sure that others in the city do not fall through the cracks,” he said.

“This year, more than ever, people are in need and these wonderful organizations can reach out and help in ways that we can’t do individually.”

More on the Christmas Hope campaign, including how you can register, key dates and more items suggestions, can be found here.