Christmas Hamper Society seeks support for upcoming hamper drive

By John Watson Local Journalism initiative Reporter

The Strathmore and Wheatland County Christmas Hamper Society is preparing to kick off its annual drive to fill hampers for families in need this holiday season.

The team sent a delegation to Wheatland County council on Sept. 21 to share their goals for this season, as well as to ask for support. 

“Last year was kind of a crazy year, as everybody knows and we had to do some things that were out of the norm from previous years,” said Society Chair, Marilyn Galvans. 

She added the society had to shift the way it organized its volunteers in order to follow provincial health guidelines and to keep their volunteers safe.

A priority for the Hamper Society this year will be continuing the COVID-19 safe practices introduced last year.

Galvans wants to focus a lot of effort into informing people of how to apply to receive a hamper, which she adds, she does not believe was adequately promoted in previous years.

Food donations last year were down 17 per cent, toy donations were also down but she did not specify by how much. Cash donations on the other hand, were up from the previous year.

“Speaking with the members from (the) food bank and some other areas that provide for help through the churches and that, they feel that the numbers (of applications) are going to be up this year, as their numbers are already uprising,” she said. “Last year at Christmas time, it was a shock to a lot, with employment being lost and sickness and all that. I do think it took a while for the impact of that to settle in for some people.”

She added another priority for the organization is to try and get volunteers from local high schools and youth organizations involved. 

“One thing I think is really important (is) to bring in some of the sports teams and the high school kids. I know in the past they’ve been a big part of helping the Christmas hamper. “The biggest thing to me though is promoting them for the future to get involved. That is one thing we need to focus on at this time.”

Reeve Amber Link said County Council will be sharing the Christmas Hamper Society’s application information on its website and social media to help promote the drive. 

The County has also set aside $3,300 from its operating budget for the hamper society, which was approved at the Sept. 21 meeting.

“In terms of the request around sharing dates and information about the hampers, I think I speak on behalf of council that we would be happy to do that,” said Link. “We’ve done it in the past and so we’ll share that through social media and whatever other modes of communication that our communication specialist determines.”

The drive will kick off on Nov. 12, with a minimum goal of gathering enough supplies to fill 250 food hampers and 295 toy hampers.