The season of giving is upon us.
Winter’s familiar storms have coated the Coast with a backdrop that’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. As good tiding’s begin to abound, locals are reminded that some of their neighbours might need a hand this holiday season and it’s time to embrace a giving spirit.
“It’s the time of year for giving,” said Food Bank on the Edge executive director Cris Martin.
“There is a food insecurity issue in our area. Some people don’t want to hear that, but there really is. There are people who really do need help.”
The Food Bank has kicked off it’s annual Christmas Hamper drive and is asking for monetary donations to ensure good tidings for all.
“Our community has always proven to be a very caring and giving community when it comes to the Christmas hampers,” Martin said. “Christmas hamper time is the time of year when we need money. We buy all the food. It’s not donation food we use; we go out and we buy everything.”
The goal is to raise enough for at least 100 hampers; each one packed with everything needed to ensure a delicious holiday dinner and a solid breakfast for Christmas morning.
“We give them a full hamper that has all freshly bought ingredients; everything for a festive holiday,” Martin said.
The hampers will be packed by volunteers and distributed to families in need throughout Ucluelet and Hitacu on Dec. 20. The cutoff date for registration is Dec. 14.
Local families are referred to the hampers’ list through a variety of outlets and anyone aware of a family in need is encouraged to let the Food Bank know at 250-726-6909.
“If anybody knows of a family in hard times, or in need of a little extra help, they can call us...and they could be refereed to be registered for a hamper,” Martin said adding registration began on Nov. 8.
Donations can be brought to the Food Bank or mailed to PO Box 1146 in Ucluelet.
Each hamper will include toys and gifts for children thanks to the Ucluelet RCMP’s Stuff the Cruiser event and the local RE/MAX Angel Tree program. Stay tuned to your Westerly News for coverage of each of these initiatives.
“We want to make sure people have a wonderful, wonderful Christmas,” Martin said.
“We want kids to wake up on Christmas morning and have the happy time that we all grew up having when we were kids and to enjoy the Christmas spirit.”