Hamper donations exceed expectations

Shannon LeClair

Times Reporter

 

The wind-up meeting for the Christmas Hamper Society took place Jan. 9, and it showed the numbers for hamper applications were down 2.5 per cent from the previous year. 

“They were down slightly…I think that may possibly be a sign that the economy is improving, and that’s a good trend because last year we were also down very slightly as well. Possibly the economy is getting better,” said Dave Collins, chairperson with the Christmas Hamper Society. 

Though applications were down there was still the need to assist over 1,000 adults and children in the area, which represents about eight per cent of the local population.

Cash donations were up by 2.5 per cent as well, and food donations went up by an astonishing 33 per cent. Collins said the toy donations have remained steady throughout the years. 

“We seem to have set all sorts of records, considering that four or five weeks ago all those tables were empty,” said Collins.

“It’s quite remarkable really, the amount of toys and food that quite literally flooded in the last few weeks of the campaign just before Christmas there, amazing, just absolutely amazing.”

There was a total of over $133,000 donated between the cash, toys and goods. This year the Christmas Hamper Society also helped out their sister organization, the Wheatland Food Bank, by passing along some of the food donations which have a fairly short shelf life and would not be usable for the next Christmas Hamper campaign.