Spreading cheer to last all year! The Whitecourt Christmas Hamper expects a busier season.

The Whitecourt Christmas Hamper is gearing up for another busy season. As with anything else, the pandemic has changed some of the ways they previously ran their program. One of the fundamental changes was the location. Usually, volunteers would have utilized Repeat Boutique, often during open hours, to take hamper applications, but physical distancing changed that. “Having that number of people in the space posed a problem, so that’s why we have a new location this year,” explained Whitecourt Christmas Hamper Committee member Koren Scott. “The United Church has been really great to open their space up to the Hamper.”

Another change is that applicants will need to follow public health orders and the municipal mask mandate, and all volunteers will be doing the same. Also, only one person from each family can attend the application session. “We want to keep our volunteers and applicants safe.” She said that there had been some questions about donations, from a pandemic standpoint, and a worry that people would be touching them. Scott noted that it was not a concern due to the length of time the contributions sit in the public boxes, the storage facility, and the church.

A couple of years back, the committee changed how they gifted food items to hamper families. Instead of providing actual food, they provide a way for the family to pick out their groceries. “Families will get a grocery gift card so they can go out and get the food that their family needs.” She said that the food gift cards heavily rely on their corporate donors and families that donate cash. Just recently, one of those corporate donors came through in a big way. “ANC just donated $15,000. They struggled this year just like all our industry businesses did. This generous donation will change our program this year!! It is because of corporate sponsors like ANC and all these families that this is possible! They get it! They do not want a kid to be left out,” explained Scott.

The committee anticipates higher numbers with the number of hardships that have happened due to the pandemic. Sometimes asking for that help can come with a stigma, and Scott wants families to know that they should not feel that way at all. “There is nothing to be lost by asking your community for help to be able to give you, and especially your kids, a happy Christmas. It’s such a special time of year, and if it isn’t your community and friends and family that can rally around you to get you through a tough time, then who can? The Christmas Hamper’s mandate is that it provides Christmas for those that need a little help. These hampers are not paying a mortgage. They are not making a car payment or finding you a job, but if there’s anything the Christmas Hamper can do, it’s maybe bring you a little brightness, a little joy and relieve a bit of stress during a really, really happy time of year.”

Over the next several weeks, until December 16, boxes will be located at various businesses in the community for residents to drop off their donations into. On December 17, ATCO employees will be traversing the neighbourhood and picking up the donations. “They do so well. It is so cool that ATCO gives them the free time to go volunteer for a day for the Christmas Hamper.”

For those looking to donate, they accept all kinds of new unwrapped things. One of the age-ranges that they are in most need of items is 9-11-year-old boys. “Our program doesn’t take electronics, such as video games or devices. That age is a tough category, and we tend to have to go scramble last minute to fill that gap,” explained Scott. Some ideas for that age group include building sets and more hands-on motor skills, such as science kits. Another age group that tends to receive fewer donations is teens. Items such as hair dryers, curling irons, makeup sets, and perfume sets would be great to donate. For teenage boys, deodorant, body care kits, ball caps, teen accessories, and fragrances are always popular. “It’s an age range that usually get’s a bit forgotten because people donate for younger kids more often, but they are important too!”

With the pandemic, one big hole is that there was not a Wolverines Teddy Bear Toss game. “Through both the Wolverines and then Smitty’s hosting the Teddy Bear Breakfast, we were able to reach our need for stuffed animals, but we can’t have those functions this year. That is one area that we think we won’t get a lot of, and we give one stuffed animal to each young kid,” explained Scott.

Family games are also a fantastic option to donate as the committee likes to provide one with each hamper. “We want to promote togetherness, and family games are a big component of that.” Considering how much more time families spend at home these days, family games are much more critical. “Another one is arts and crafts kits because they can do those together. It’s a great hands-on activity.”

The first two application dates are Wednesday, December 2, from 11 am until 3 pm and Thursday, December 3, from 7 pm until 9 pm at the Whitecourt United Church located at 5201 50 Street. For a full list of days and times, please visit the Whitecourt Christmas Hamper’s page on Facebook or call 780-779-6437. “Each child receives something they can wake up to on Christmas Day and feel proud and excited about. That is what our program prides itself on. We’re giving a family a Christmas!”

In getting to help provide the joy of Christmas to local families, Scott said that the Whitecourt Christmas Hamper is just a vehicle. “It’s the community that puts this together. It is the community that puts items in those bins and who send us e-transfers of cash. It is 100 percent the community doing this, and our committee is purely just the vehicle!”