The St. Albert Kinettes have been tirelessly helping the struggling families of this city for more than four decades now and they aren’t about to stop.
The volunteer organization is already in the middle of its 44th annual Christmas hamper campaign, an effort that doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. In fact, all indications are things are only getting worse in St. Albert.
Last year, the group was able to help more than 200 families in need with food and children’s presents. According to Karen Mehok, the past club president and current hamper campaign co-ordinator, the Kinettes are already well on their way to meeting or surpassing that figure this time around but donations have been otherwise slow to come in.
The collection box has already had to be emptied a few times — once even before the campaign kicked off last Saturday, but the pace has been sluggish.
“Things are going great but right now the toys are a little slow and so is the food,” Mehok said. “We’re not really too worried. Our numbers are really a lot higher than last year. We’re hoping that that’s just because people are getting their referrals in sooner. We budgeted for 200 and we’re already at 145.”
Cash donations are down as well, she added.
Counsellors from local social service agencies refer clients to the Kinettes. The entire campaign is a massive effort right from planning and co-ordination through to execution and wrap-up, and it’s all managed by volunteers.
The good news is it’s one of those projects where the community comes out in droves to lend a hand. Mehok is pretty pleased with the support and she expects that a special event next weekend will be a great success, thanks to St. Albert Transit.
“The Fill-A-Bus is usually what puts us over,” she says.
Non-perishable food or new and unwrapped toy donations can be dropped off to any of the collection boxes until Sunday, Dec. 12 at the following locations: St. Albert Centre, St. Albert Place, both Save-On Foods stores, Superstore, both ATB and Scotiabank branches, Royal Bank, the Ron Hodgson car dealership and all three high schools in St. Albert.
Donations are also accepted during the annual Fill-A-Bus event. That runs next Saturday, Dec. 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the following locations: both Safeway stores, both Save-On Foods stores, Sobeys, Superstore and Canadian Tire.
Financial donations by cash or cheque can be dropped off at fire hall No. 3, located at 100 Giroux Rd. Donations of $20 or more are tax deductible. Cheques can also be mailed to:
Kinette Club of St. Albert
Christmas Hamper Program
P.O. Box 65064, Mission Hill Plaza
St. Albert, AB T8N 5Y3
If you want to know more about the hampers or volunteer, please email [email protected] or contact Mehok at 780-418-3930 or Barb at 780-419-2261.
Hamper sorting and compiling takes place from Dec. 12 to 15 with deliveries to occur on Dec. 15 and 16. If you want to know more about the Kinettes, please visit www.stalbertkinettes.ca.
