It’s the most wonderful time of the year: shoppers clog stores to gather festive foods, stocking stuffers, and party items; family and friends exchange gifts, and those with big hearts turn outward to help their fellow man.
This year, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) in the Heartland Health Region will be carrying on a 55-year tradition by collecting and distributing food hampers to families with low-income during the Christmas season.
“At Christmas, many families feel an extra strain, and for low-income families, this could mean that they won’t have the fun and festive foods Christmas brings,” says Pam Welter, director and coordinator of the CMHA Kindersley Branch. She explained that the hampers consist of one week’s worth of groceries, Christmas oranges, and toys for the kids from Santa.
The CMHA partners with other services in the Heartland Health area, such as the Salvation Army, the West Central Family Support and Crisis Centre and food bank, and other community services who provide food security, to ensure that everyone will have a Christmas dinner. “This partnership is important to make sure that no family is missed,” says Welter.
The hamper drive will take place at the Kindersley Mall from December 1 – 21, Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 4p.m., as volunteer hours permit. Donations will be accepted right up until the last day, when the families will receive the hampers. Families can apply for the food hampers up until December 18; applications are available at Spokes, the Salvation Army, the West Central Family Support and Crisis Centre, and at the Kindersley Mall.
There will also be a bake sale at the Kindersley Mall location on December 14 and 15, where donated Christmas baking and treats will be sold with proceeds going directly to the services here in Kindersley. Donations will be accepted December 13 to 15.
Members of the community are encouraged to fill these hampers by donating cash or non-perishable food items at the hamper booth. Those who donate food are encouraged to double check expiry dates as food that is past date will not be given out in the hampers. The CMHA can give out tax-deductible receipts for cash donations over $50.
A popular way to get the whole family involved is to sign up to sponsor a family. With this program, volunteers can pick a family and shop for them, making the joy of giving that much more personal. In order to protect privacy, the receiving family’s personal information is not given to the sponsors, just enough to give the volunteers an idea of what to shop for. Some volunteers will leave their own contact information in the hampers, and they sometimes will be pleasantly surprised with a thank you note or call from the sponsored family. “This is by far the most popular way we fill up our hampers,” says Welter. “The personal aspect of it and the fact that some families later become friends all adds to the joy of giving.”
So head over to the Kindersley Mall to volunteer your time, or donate to a good cause, or contact Pam Welter at 306-463-8022 for more ways you can help.
“A rich life is lived from a giving heart, not a selfish mind.” ― Rasheed Ogunlaru
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