Businesses make sure everyone has a Merry Christmas

By Miriam Ostermann, Associate Editor

Just over 20 Strathmore businesses have joined together to raise awareness about poverty by raising funds and donations, and hosting a complimentary Christmas feast for the community.
Strathmore’s Boston Pizza staff proposed the idea for the community Christmas initiative after seeing individuals camped out in their cars in the parking lot and coming into the restaurant asking for food, and realizing an increase in businesses approaching the franchise about aiding in their fundraising efforts.
Therefore, Boston Pizza cooked up the idea of providing a Christmas community event provided by the community for the down and out.
In addition to hosting a buffet-style traditional turkey dinner free of charge on Dec. 25, numerous businesses around town are also accepting donations in the form of monetary contributions, blankets, clothes, toys and food, which will be donated to two causes: the Strathmore Overnight Shelter (SOS) and the Wheatland County Food Bank.
“I grew up quite poor myself, so I know what it’s like to go to sleep hungry and to wear the same clothes for two weeks straight before they get washed. When I was a child, it was kind of the norm in the early ’80s but now I just don’t see a reason for it,” said Greg Persaud, general manager at Strathmore’s Boston Pizza.
“I’ve been working in Strathmore for two years and I’ve been living here for about six months. Living outside of Strathmore and going back and forth you really don’t see all of that. But then living here, doing my grocery shopping and bank runs and whatever other errands I have to do, your eyes open up to the reality of what’s going on here.
“There’s been a number of occasions where people are sleeping in their cars in my parking lot. There’s people asking, ‘hey do you have any extra food?’ and you can tell they’re not trying to cause trouble, they’re generally looking for something to eat. We’ve seen that a lot.”
Eager to jump on board were many local businesses, including Assist Business Centre which donated signage and advertising, H&H Huxted and Sobeys which are providing the turkeys, and Rocky’s Bakery that will prepare the tasty birds.
Since the idea came to fruition in early October, the event has garnered much attention, not just from the business community but from Strathmore citizens offering to help.
Richard Rodgers, director of outreach for SOS, said when the idea of an overnight shelter was first introduced, the project faced numerous misconceptions about its necessity. Yet, over the last couple of years, he’s noticed momentum in the community’s efforts to rally behind the shelter and those destitute.
“When we start operating and if we have a good track record, everyone will get on board, it’s just a matter of time,” said Rodgers, who has partnered with the other businesses on the community Christmas initiative.
“Our initiative is all about the people who are not qualified for the (food) hamper, so people who are making over the threshold. We’re here for the families that are just getting back to work and they’re catching up on bills and they can’t afford presents for the children. So, we’re here for the gap in between, for the lower income and the middle class.”
Many businesses have also collected toys that will be given to the children at the dinner. Although the evening is geared towards the less fortunate, anybody is invited to partake in the event.
The Strathmore Boston Pizza is also allowing their customers to make a donation on their bill towards the cause. They are also selling candy canes for $1, and are donating $5 per large pizza sold on Christmas Eve.
The community Christmas will take place on Dec. 25 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“We want to make more of a community Christmas to raise awareness around poverty and what’s going on; a lot turn a blind eye to it,” said Persaud.
“I’m kind of surprised at how much attention this is getting, but the people we’ve approached, I know them as people and I knew that they would do what they can. For us it’s not, ‘hey we’re doing this,’ it’s the businesses of Strathmore, and it’s not just the businesses either. We’ve had a number of Strathmore citizens calling and emailing saying, ‘hey, we’d love to help out.’
“I want this to be a community thing because it’s never going to change if it’s one person fighting the fight,” added Persaud.