People in need of help at Christmas time can find it through two community groups - one holding a food campaign, another holding a drive for gifts.
The Flin Flon Aboriginal Friendship Centre’s annual gift program is accepting donations currently - gifts can be dropped off at the centre from now until Dec. 19.
People needing gifts for this holiday season can register by calling the Friendship Centre at (204) 687-3900 and can pick up the items between Dec. 19-23, by appointed time. Recipients will need to come in at the scheduled time and will need to show a provincial health card - either Manitoba or Saskatchewan cards will work.
“During that time, that's when the parent and or guardian comes in and basically shops - they pick up or select gifts for their child or children. Then they wrap it, and then they go home,” said Shelly Craig with the Friendship Centre.
Individual donors, community groups and businesses are all welcomed - Red Apple donated several items to the drive and a percentage of sales for a length of time for the program.
“You can be just an individual or resident of the community, you can be a business or from a service club. Anything goes,” said Craig.
Craig said the program is particularly in need for items for older kids, who have fewer gift options than the younger age groups, though gifts for all ages would be appreciated.
“In the past, it's kind of been those teenage years. We seem to often get a lot of gifts for the younger years, but for teenagers, they aren’t - if people want to donate, that's kind of a gap,” she said.
Demand for this year’s program, Craig said, has been higher than normal, with about the normal number of people each year already having signed up. More people are expected, while organizers are busy trying to round up more toys to provide.
“We average around a hundred families each year and distribute around 300 gifts. We’re anticipating that to be higher this year - we’re already hitting close to 100 families that have phoned in,” Craig said.
“I’m expecting between 100-150 families and maybe around 350 gifts - it’s been a tough year for lots of people.”
The Salvation Army’s annual food hamper campaign has already closed its registration for the year, but recipients of hampers will be able to get their items soon. They too have seen demand for their services go up this year and have had to plan around the increase in need.
“Right now, we’re sitting at about 172 hampers, which is a bit more than last year at this time. We’ve seen the increase… it just kind of skyrocketed by comparison,” said Salvation Army Major Kelsie Burford.
“That’s almost 20 more hampers than we had at this time last year.”
Donations and volunteers have come in to help run the program this season, with Burford saying that level of support has been a silver lining in what’s been a busier-than-normal season for the group.
“It's been good and bad because you're glad to be able to provide for that many people - but the sad reality is that many people are in need,” she said.
The organization will be distributing the food hampers at the building on Hemlock Drive Dec. 22 between 3 p.m.-7 p.m. and will be heading to outlying communities - Denare Beach, Cranberry Portage and Sherridon - to drop off hampers around Christmas time. While organizers usually do not deliver the hampers by vehicle locally, accommodations can be made on request if time permits.
The Salvation Army kettle campaign is also underway, with the familiar hand bells and red kettles being out at the Flin Flon Walmart, North of 53 Consumers’ Co-op each weekend between now and Christmas, as well as the week leading up to Christmas from Dec. 19-24 and a payday kettle at the RBC Royal Bank.
Organizations like the Friendship Centre, the Salvation Army and others require assistance from the community and - often - from volunteers to continue the work. Craig said that assistance from the community has been vital for people come holiday time in the past, hoping that the same level of support will come in this year for a good cause.
“I'm a big believer in equality and it would be nice if no child in our community went without a gift,” she said.
“I know there are other groups out there doing fantastic and wonderful things, but I think if everybody does just a little bit at a time, then it adds up.”
