Making Christmas memorable for local families in need, one toy at a time

For fifty years, the Whitecourt Christmas Hamper has played a significant role in the holiday experience of local families. By helping facilitate the donation collection process, the delivery process, and every bit in between, volunteers get to play Santa, thanks to the generosity of the residents and businesses in Whitecourt.

The last few years have been especially hard for families, and the need will likely continue to grow. “We never quite know until the interviews start how that year will play out. With the last two years with COVID and the substantial changes in people’s finances, we felt that each year would increase. I think this year will be even higher, especially with the price of inflation increasing. I think that’s going to be a crunch of families’ finances,” explained Whitecourt Christmas Hamper Chair Kim Tschigerl.

As a member of the hamper volunteer squad for years, Tschigerl said looking back at how the program started to where it is today is heartwarming. “The hamper started with six ladies in 1972. It was just a program that came together with some government funding to help families that couldn’t make it through the Christmas season. Initially, donations around town were collected with food and toys for the kids.”

When the government funding didn’t return in year two, volunteers worked hard to keep going without it; the rest truly is history. “Our motto is that Christmas is for kids and families. To stay true to that motto, over the fifty years, we’ve always been adaptable to what the families needed. We collect toys from community residents and provide gift cards for groceries, which we use cash donations for. We give kids pieces of clothing, toques, and mitts to stay warm, and all these little extras that we can give to these families to help them get through December, one of the hardest months for families when they feel that pressure and don’t have the extra funds.”

Tschigerl said that when it comes to sorting all the donations at the end of the collection period, words can’t express their gratefulness, seeing mounds of gifts before them. “We get so emotional. Whitecourt has such a generous, giving heart, and that is what we facilitate. We are just the people who bring it all together. It is amazing to see. I don’t know if I can put the proper words together to explain what it’s like to stand there and see all the gifts. It’s so generous.”

Collection bins are located at Scotiabank, the Allan & Jean Millar Centre, the Woodlands County Office, Amazing Gifts, White Wall Wood, and RE/MAX Advantage. Financial donations can be sent via etransfer (mrsgundy@telus.net) or dropped off at the RE/MAX office.

For the realtors and admin staff at RE/MAX, donations for the Whitecourt Christmas Hamper have turned into a fun game, and they have a massive mound of donations to show for it. The 2022 Business Challenge started with two nominations to two local businesses, New Venture Safety Services and Whitecourt IGA. Those two, in turn, nominated two more each, and the game was officially underway.

What started last year to help boost the number of stuffed animals donated is now so much more. “One of the goals is that every child should have a stuffed animal. We don’t know the trauma and hardships these children face, so it’s important to give them a stuffed animal to feel loved. That’s the heart that comes out of these business challenges. That stuffie challenge started it all. These ladies (Lexi Ames and Kait Moffat) have pulled this together, which is phenomenal. Them partnering with us is crucial.”

Since the business challenge began on November 7, countless businesses have participated, helping to build the mountain of donations in the RE/MAX office waiting area. Realtor Lexi Ames said it’s incredible to see how excited people and businesses are to be nominated. “There has not been one person that has not taken on the challenge when nominated. Everybody is typically here within twenty-four hours of being nominated with arms full of gifts.”

She said that what the Christmas Hamper does in Whitecourt brings tears to her eyes. Kait Moffat from New Venture Safety Services, who helped create the business challenge event with Ames, agreed. “Knowing that every kid is going to wake up with a smile on their face Christmas morning with something under the tree, there is nothing better than that.”

Having lived in Whitecourt her whole life, Ames said she doesn’t know anything different than a massively generous community, adding that it must be quite something for someone to enter the community who has not experienced the same elsewhere. Moffat said Whitecourt is special. “That’s the crazy thing about this community, and I’ve never seen anything like it before. People are so generous here. Everyone is so eager to help out and support a good cause. This community is unique.”

Donations will be collected until December 14 ahead of a significant sorting day on the 15, packing day on the 16 and delivery day on the 17. The Family Worship Centre donates the use of their space for two days to allow volunteers to organize, sort and pack every gift. “We are very grateful to them.”

The Rotary Club of Whitecourt will hold a toy drive in the Canadian Tire parking lot on Saturday, December 3, where flyers will also be handed out, giving suggestions for what to donate. Caine’s Jewellers has its annual ornament sale happening too. The personalized ornaments are $15; ten dollars from each ornament sold will be donated between Tennille’s Hope Kommunity Soup Kitchen and the Whitecourt Christmas Hamper.

Gift cards are gratefully accepted in $25 denominations, and receipts are requested to be kept with the gift cards so that volunteers can verify the amount. “Gift cards are great for teens, 12-17. We strive to give a gift to those teens along with a gift card,” explained Tschigerl. From makeup kits, science and craft kits, books, and family games, there are endless ideas to help make Christmas bright for families. “If you have kids, bring them shopping. They know what to pick and are the best shoppers for this. Usually, some of the teachers from nearby schools will walk their classes over to Walmart, and they pick out toys for children in need in our community. It’s beautiful. We rely on the schools and those teachers and their donations. They are the ones out there seeing those kids in need.”

Founding hamper member Phyllis Tomlinson helped start the program fifty years ago and still volunteers each year. “That’s something for us to celebrate. She is one dedicated volunteer. We are very grateful for her,” said Tschigerl. Applications to receive a Christmas hamper start on November 30 at the Whitecourt United Church.