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It’s the Kinette Club of St. Albert’s 50th anniversary Christmas Hamper Campaign, a much needed and appreciated Christmas gift to local families in need. The campaign helps those who may otherwise not have the makings for a Christmas dinner or gifts under the tree for the children.

“For our 50th year, it’d be hugely appreciated if we could raise $50,000 in cash and cheques,” said Kinette club member Kim Bedry. “Sometimes we race out at the last moment to buy toys or gift cards – whatever we didn’t receive as donations, but still need. The money is an enormous help.”

Until December 15th, non-perishable foods, new unwrapped toys for boys and girls and cash or cheques can be dropped off at various sites around town: Realty Executives Masters, CIVC, Dulux Paint, Curves, St. Albert Creative Preschool, Sweet Boutique, Winners, BMO, St. Albert Place, Tourist Information, Riverside Honda, Fire Hall #3, Starbucks/Chapters, St. Albert Centre, Allstate Insurance, Servus Place, SVAC, Bookstore on Perron, ATB Financial, Charmed Floral Design Inc, KDM Management Inc, LB’s Pub, Re/Max Realty and various city schools.

The biggest one-day blitz for collections is the annual Fill-A-Bus event, which this year is on December 10 at various grocery store locations and Canadian Tire, which is celebrating 15 years as Fill-A-Bus headquarters, with hot chocolate and Santa on site. For the past couple of years, local Kinette Jen Warford’s husband Ryan has taken on the mammoth job of managing the Fill-A-Bus, organizing the buses, drivers and volunteers needed to staff the one-day collection-on-wheels throughout the city.

“We’ve made it a family tradition. Ryan gets help from his co-workers, and our daughters Ariel, 4, and Emma, 7, help in the all-day event. It’s what they know,” said Warford. “We take the bags of donated food and toys, and pass out candy canes. It’s a special time and teaches the kids good lessons on giving; and helping others.”

Kinette public relations coordinator Natasha Lefebvre emphasizes that all donations to the Christmas Hamper stays in this community to help local families in need. If any food donations are left over, they are given to the St. Albert Food Bank.

“This is our biggest event of the year, and it’s truly a local one – St. Albert residents and businesses helping local families enjoy Christmas,” she said.

Much of what the Kinette Club of St. Albert does year-round is locally-focused such as Christmas Hamper, volunteering with the Kinsmen at Rainmaker Rodeo, gathering toiletries for S.A.F.E., and helping at city blood donor clinics. But the club also works for larger causes too. The national charity for all Kin Canada organizations is Cystic Fibrosis, so some of the year’s fundraising goes toward that. The STARS Air Ambulance in Alberta is another favourite cause. Time and funds have also gone toward events for and those affected by fires in Fort McMurray and in memory of Const. David Wynn.

“The Christmas Hamper is our signature event of the year – it’s what we’re known for – but like our fellow service groups in town, we offer help wherever there is need, and however we can,” said Bedry.

Volunteers are needed for assembly and delivery of Christmas hampers. Contact 587-334-5387 or [email protected] for information on volunteering or donating to the campaign.