This year marks the 58th annual St. Albert Kinette Christmas Hamper Campaign; not only the group’s biggest service project of the year, but an opportunity to fulfill its motto–to serve the community’s greatest needs. And while the organization is once again partnering with the St. Albert Food Bank and the St. Albert Salvation Army (to supply the gift of a child’s toy to go with a Christmas food hamper), Kinettes and volunteers are gearing up to assemble and deliver food hampers to an estimated 300 families in St. Albert this Christmas.
Chelsey Mandrusiak, president of the Kinette Club of St. Albert, says the group is currently putting out the call for referrals for those who are in need of a hamper–a Christmas meal and groceries for two to three weeks–through local schools and churches, service organizations and the food bank.
“The need is always there, and with today’s economy, it’s greater than ever. With just the grocery bill and gas alone, so many families find it hard to make ends meet,” said Mandrusiak. “We do all we can to serve our local community, so we give those less fortunate the makings of a turkey dinner, plus groceries for the holidays, including pancake mix and syrup for a Christmas breakfast, and toys for the kids.”
Mandrusiak, who’s a third-generation Kinette after her grandmother and mother before her, praises residents for stepping up whenever they’re called to do so, whether with food and monetary donations (even gift cards for local grocery stores or Walmart) or volunteering to help at events or as drivers delivering hampers.
“St. Albert residents are always a big support. It’s the greatest thing to see,” added Mandrusiak of events like the Snowflake Festival and Fill-a-Bus, which sees people donating non-perishable foods to fill hampers. “As soon as we put out the call for drivers, slots start filling. And some families, youth groups, sports teams, make a tradition of doing a shift at Fill-a-Bus. For me, my family’s 40-year legacy of helping in the community is very important. Now it’s my turn to step up.”
“We start planning in September and it involves over a thousand hours just in terms of what our club does,” added St. Albert Kinettes past president Kathy Van Vulpen, pointing to local businesses and schools which support the program by hosting a familiar red collection box at their location. “There’s fantastic community support sorting food, building hampers and on delivery day too.”
The 2024 campaign kicks off with the Snowflake Festival on Perron Street, Nov. 29, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. where a bus will be on hand to collect donations. Next is the city-wide Fill-a-Bus, Saturday, Dec. 7 at various locations across town. St. Albert Transit sponsors the buses to collect donations at sites including Canadian Tire, Independent Grocers, Real Canadian Superstore, Save On Foods North and South, Sobeys and Walmart.
HML Landscaping is hosting a Whoville Dinner and Auction Dec. 11 at Cattail Crossing Golf Course. Tickets are available through HML Landscaping. Also on Dec. 11, the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce luncheon will have a lotto board to raise money for the hamper campaign.
Community members are asked to donate non-perishables like pasta, crackers, cereal, sugar, spices, canned goods, peanut butter and jam, stuffing mix, diapers and baby food. Recommended gift donations range from board games, puzzles and books, to gift cards for Walmart, St. Albert Centre, fast food locations and movie theatres. Donated toys and gifts will be displayed, store-front style at the St. Albert Salvation Army. There, hamper recipients can bring their children to choose a gift they like best.
Donations will be accepted until Dec. 12 at red box locations around town. Monetary donations can be dropped off at Sturgeon Valley Baptist Church, 51 Woodlands Rd. Cheques and gift cards can be mailed to the Kinette Club of St. Albert Christmas Hamper program, Box 65064, Mission Hill Plaza, T8N 5Y3. Donate by e-transfer to [email protected]; note christmas hamper in the transfer.
About 16 Kinettes (and volunteers) will start assembling hampers the week of Dec. 9, out of the St. Albert Kinsmen banquet hall on Riel Drive. Delivery will be Dec. 14. For more information on volunteering, reach out to [email protected]
