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Hamper Society ensures a bright Christmas for all

When an opening came up in the board of the Stettler and District Hamper Society five years ago, it was a friend

When an opening came up in the board of the Stettler and District Hamper Society five years ago, it was a friend that got now-president Janelle Robinson involved.

It only took one season of seeing the difference the toy and food hampers made in the lives of families whose budgets were stretched tight to convince Robinson she’d found the perfect charity to volunteer her time with.

“The true spirit of our town is shown at Christmas,” she said. “Being in such an oil-rich area, I think we sometimes forget that (others are) less fortunate and need our help.”

During the Christmas season, volunteers deliver a hamper of toys and children’s items and a hamper of food to those who register with the Stettler Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) office. Those who want to donate can do so at the FCSS on Main Street, or at the Gitzel Krejci Dand Peterson Chartered Accountants office on 51 Street. The Hamper Society, being a registered charity, can provide tax receipts at the two locations.

The food hamper comes with “everything you need for a Christmas dinner,” Robinson explained, but also has enough food to ensure the Christmas week isn’t too thin.

“The radio station does a great job with its turkey drive,” she added, explaining that the money raised by Q93.3 purchases the turkeys in every basket, with any leftover money going towards additional food purchases.

Local businesses get in on the act as well, either by setting up collection boxes like the ones found at Wal-Mart, Peavey Mart and PartyMaxx, or by holding raffles like the one recently drawn at A&W, which brought in another thousand dollars.

“The toy hamper comes with some quality toys, but also basic necessities like toothpaste, toothbrushes, socks, mittens and hats,” Robinson said.

Last year, the PJ Drive was started by the local Kinettes, and while the group decided to not do it again this year, local businesses picked up the project and each basket will come with a set of clean pyjamas for the child involved as well.

Robinson said the reaction from most recipients of the Christmas hampers are joy, though she acknowledges that others are saddened or embarrassed by the fact that they are in a situation where such charity is warranted.

“This is a hand up, not a hand out,” Robinson said, firmly. “A lot of the people who register have both adults working, or one has been forced off work by an injury or other situation.”

A growing segment of people applying for the hampers are seniors, Robinson noted.

“We want to make sure all kids – and not just kids, actually – have a good Christmas meal,” she said. “For some seniors, who aren’t able to get out or are on fixed income, this hamper can make a difference.”

Before the last hamper is delivered at Christmas, roughly 60 volunteers will have been involved in the program, from the board that plans and plots out the fundraising, to those who pack the hampers and those who deliver them.

“It is such a group effort,” Robinson noted.