Perhaps more this year than ever before, local families in need are relying on the generosity of the St. Albert Kinettes and the annual Christmas Hamper campaign. It’s understandable with the economic downturn, largely due to the drop in oil prices and affect on the Alberta energy industry, resulting in job losses impacting workers across the province. As well, the Fort McMurray fires displaced families and forced them south – including to St. Albert – with some yet to return.
It’s a concern for the members of the Kinette Club of St. Albert, who are busy collecting toys and food for the 50th annual Christmas Hamper campaign. Until Dec. 15, donations are being accepted at the recognizable red boxes placed at over 20 local businesses, banks, schools and fire halls and St. Albert Centre, Servus Place and Sturgeon Valley Athletic Club.
The club expects more than 300 hamper requests this year. Referrals are sent to the Kinettes from local schools, churches, the food bank and the St. Albert Family Resource Centre, which is up from the 283 prepared and delivered last Christmas. Organizers are cautiously optimistic there’ll be enough donations to meet demand, though some years have seen a lack of either toys or food. In those cases, cash donations have saved the day to buy missing elements for each hamper.
“St. Albert is always very generous – each year, the community pulls through in the end,” said long time Kinette Kim Bedry, who also serves as deputy governor for the St. Albert and area zone. “We put out the call if it looks like we’ll be short of something near crunch time. This year, we lost our turkey sponsor, so we’d love to have a business or individual take that on – 300 turkeys or $3,000 – and we’re always lacking gift cards for older children.”
The Christmas Hamper wish list includes non-perishable food items like peanut butter, flour, cereal and powdered milk, plus gift ideas for children up to age 16, such as board games, books, hats and mittens, toiletries and gift cards from spots like Subway or EB Games. Bedry said gift cards can be scarce, but are needed and much appreciated for families with tweens and teens.
Heartwarming scenes abound in this yearly group effort, including seeing children emptying piggy banks at the Snowflake Festival or fill-a-bus events, schools making the cause their own by adopting a family or filling their own buses, and service clubs tagging the Christmas Hamper as a cause to support.
Optimist Club of St. Albert president Glen Kreller stopped into this year’s Kinette hamper depot with 23 Best Buy gift cards for $15 each, saying the Christmas Hamper fits in with the club’s mandate to raise and distribute money to youth-oriented local causes.
“We’re a service club, and the Hamper campaign allows us to put our funds where they’re needed,” he said.
Business sponsors are also key to the success of the Christmas Hamper, allowing the Kinettes to gather all the fixings for a Christmas dinner in each hamper. St. Albert Gazette donates hams, while Edmonton Potato Growers and H & W Produce offer potatoes and carrots, respectively.
The one-day fill-a-bus blitz on Dec. 10 couldn’t run without the space donated at grocery stores around town: Sobeys, Safeway, Superstore, Costco and Canadian Tire.
This year, Drayden Insurance Inc. has offered up its just-vacated space on Perron St. as a collection and sorting depot. The gathering spot that will be essential as hampers are assembled and sent out for delivery just before and on Dec. 18. Other key sponsors this year include the St. Albert Kinsmen, St. Albert K40, Retired Teachers Association, Canadian Natural Resources and Fillmore Construction.
“We’re grateful that clubs, schools, churches, businesses and individuals make the Christmas Hamper their own – we encourage that behaviour,” said Bedry.
“We always worry we won’t have enough, but somehow it comes together,” added long time Kinette member Julie DeMott. “I feel optimistic about this year’s campaign, our 50th. We’d love to raise $50,000 in cash donations too on this anniversary year.”
Cash donations are being received at Fire Hall #3 – 100 Giroux Rd. or mailed to The Kinette Club of St. Albert, Box 65064 Mission Hill Plaza, St. Albert, AB T8N 5Y3. Tax receipts are available on request for donations over $25.
Volunteers are needed for final hamper assembly and to deliver hampers on Dec. 18. For more information call 587-334-5387 or email [email protected]
