Cheer campaign short 100 hampers

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This article was published 28/11/2023 (1018 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

An annual Westman Christmas campaign is starting to come together, but there are still more than 100 families who need to be adopted to ensure they’ll receive a hamper this year, says Joanne Vinthers of Brandon and Westman Christmas Cheer.

“We knew we were going to get 1,400 plus applications, and we can only build and store 1,100 because of our space. So, we had 300 and some that needed to be filled, and we’re still falling short,” said Vinthers.

Monday was the first day that volunteers started putting the hampers together in the charity’s space in the basement of the Library/Arts Building.

Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett was among the volunteers who assembled a hamper for a single person, following a list provided by another Christmas Cheer volunteer.

“The first hamper I put together had several items like soup, cereal, beans, canned fruit and canned ham,” Fawcett said. “My wife and I, my parents and my boys have delivered hampers for many years, so it’s important to contribute. And for those who will be getting the hampers, there is something special around the Christmas season, where it is nice to know there’s a community out there that cares about you.”

Vinthers has been with Brandon and Westman Christmas Cheer for about eight years and is one of the office managers who oversees the family hamper adoption program. She said they now need the community to step up and help fill those last few hampers so that everybody who applied can get one.

“This is the most applications that I believe we’ve ever had. And it’s not surprising, you know. Pick anything — the economy, food prices, food insecurity, housing insecurity, job insecurity. It all leads to people needing help in some way,” Vinthers said.

The charity has made it easy for people who want to adopt a family, but don’t have the time or capability to shop for the hamper items themselves. They can do it online and have a local grocery store put it together.

On the Brandon and Westman Christmas Cheer’s website, there are four different family options to choose from: an individual, a small family, which is described as two to three people, a medium family of four to five people, or a large one, with six or more people.

Once a selection is made, the specific grocery list pops up with items including juice, coffee or tea, pork and beans, pasta and sauce, baby food, applesauce and Christmas oranges.

All family hampers must contain a new toy or gift for each child up to 16 years of age, with the suggested price of $20 to $30, as well as one clothing article for each child like a toque or hat, mitts, gloves, socks, or scarf.

Other items to include are candy bags, a stuffed toy, a book or colouring book and crayons, and for teenagers, movie passes or fast-food coupons.

Synthia Wright, social media manager with Brandon and Westman Christmas Cheer, says people can have their list filled and ready for pickup, thanks to an agreement with Sobeys South on 18th Street.

“If you contact Sobeys South, you can ask them to prepare all the food items and then you just have to pick up and pay. They have all the food on our lists, and they have generously offered to collect everything. So, once you make the arrangements, you just have to pick them up and pay. Then you contact the family you have adopted, and arrange a time to drop it off,” Wright said.

Two days have been set aside to deliver the 1,400 hampers in Westman — the afternoon and evening of Dec. 13, and the morning of the 14th.

Volunteer drivers are also needed for delivery, said Vinthers, who said she is hopeful that everything will fall together.

“I’m optimistic. I know that the community will help,” Vinthers said. “Even during the COVID-19 pandemic year when the United Way took on the program, we had over 500 adopters in the city. So, I know there’s people or groups out there who will come to help.

“The magic always happens, right? We’re thankful that the community always steps up to help us.”

For information about adopting a family, call Brandon and Westman Christmas Cheer at 204-727-8933 or visit brandonwestmanchristmascheer.ca/

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