The Kinettes’ fill-a-bus event didn’t bring in quite as many donations as needed this year.
On Saturday the frigid temperatures put a damper on the hamper collection efforts. Temperatures dropped to -23 C and the wind made it feel even colder.
“It went really well given how cold it was,” said Sarah Patrick, marketing and customer service coordinator for City of St. Albert. “We had a ton of people come out and we had a ton of donations.”
The hamper drive was only able to collect 6,000 pounds of food and toys this year for the 250 hampers the Kinettes need to fill. Last year the event was able to bring in 8,000 lbs. of donations.
This year the group was also able to collect $2,000 in cash and gift cards.
“The need is still there,” Patrick said. “Even though the event went really well we will still be needing some more help.”
Another reason Patrick thinks the event gathered fewer donations than last year is because of the economy.
“Dollars are tight and people are trying to make them stretch as much as possible,” Patrick said. “Although people are trying to contribute in any way that they can, they are not able to contribute as much as they have in previous years.”
The group will continue to accept donations until Dec. 18. Anyone wanting to donate can bring food or toys to the King of Kings Lutheran Church in St. Albert.
“Teenage years are the harder kids to buy for so gift cards are great,” Patrick said. “If anybody is able to contribute gift cards they go over really great.”
This was a special year for the Kinettes as it was their 50th year in the community and their 15th year putting together hampers for those in need.
They marked the event by dressing up the bus at Canadian Tire as a reindeer, featuring the big red nose and antlers. Santa also made an appearance and the crowd shared some cookies and coffee to celebrate the milestone.
The Kinettes had buses set up at Canadian Tire, Gateway Safeway, Inglewood Safeway, Sobeys, Costco and Superstore.
