Kenneth Brown
of The Crossroads
A Christmas Hamper program within the greater Kindersley area is now accepting applications and donations to get prepared for the upcoming Christmas season.
There have been changes made to the Christmas Hamper program for Kindersley and area. The Canadian Mental Health Association used to co-ordinate a regional hamper program in the area, but the program has been taken over by three organizations based in Kindersley.
The Kindersley & District Food Bank, Salvation Army and West Central Crisis & Family Support Centre have teamed up to co-ordinate the annual hamper program. Hampers will be distributed to recipients in the food bank’s service area.
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Residents of Kindersley, Alsask, Brock, Coleville, Eatonia, Flaxcombe, Marengo and Smiley, along with the rural areas in between those communities, will be able to get a hamper for the upcoming Christmas season. People in surrounding areas are encouraged to contact one of partner organizations to see if the program applies to them.
The application deadline for recipients is Dec. 15 and applications are available in Kindersley at the Spokes Family Resource Centre, Salvation Army thrift store, crisis centre and at the location in the Kindersley Mall where donations are being accepted.
Donations of food, toys and money will be accepted until Dec. 17 at the latest. The collection sites are at the mall in the former Cameron’s Clothing Company store, the Salvation Army thrift store and the crisis centre.
Volunteers will be at the main location in the mall to accept donations Monday to Saturday from Dec. 1-15 between the hours of noon and 6 p.m. Donations will be accepted at the crisis centre and thrift store during regular operating hours. Other than the changes of co-ordinators and area, the program is the same as before.
Tax receipts are available for any donation of $20 or more. If people want tax receipts, they have to provide their postal information to people at the donation sites and the receipts will be sent in the mail.
Each hamper will follow the nutritional requirements of Canada’s Food Guide, and they will include additional food items for a traditional Christmas meal, treats and toys for children who are 12 years of age and under. The Salvation Army provides turkeys or hams for the supper and the crisis centre provides the toys. Only donations of new, unwrapped toys, books and games should be made for the program’s hampers.
There are specific food items in high demand. The food needs include oranges, soup, pasta, pasta sauce, rice, cereals, instant oatmeal, peanut butter, canned beans, canned meat, juice and canned fruits and vegetables among other non-perishable items.
The pick up day for hamper recipients is on Dec. 20 at the mall location, and there has been a change to the hours. People could pick up the Christmas Hampers on Dec. 20 from 9:30 a.m. to noon or from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Misty Leismeister, who works at the crisis centre, is one of the contacts for the hamper program. Glenna Cryderman of the Salvation Army and the food bank at 306-460-7022 could also be contacted for inquiries about the program. Leismeister said the three partners worked together closely as they do at other times.
“We do partner with the food bank and with the Salvation Army so much through the crisis centre,” she said, referring to the team aspect behind the effort. “We want to be able to reach out and offer the services to the greatest population that needs the assistance through this time of year.”
She noted that representatives from each organization met either once or twice per month in the months leading up to the program’s launch tomorrow. Leismeister said people must submit their hamper applications before the deadline on Dec. 15 at 4 p.m.
People who want to donate outside of the regular hours at drop-off locations could contact one of the partners to make arrangements. The deadline to donate is Dec. 17, but Leismeister added that “we will never turn anybody away.”
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