It might seem early but to get Christmas hampers organized for those in need in the community in time for the holidays takes time, effort, coordination and plenty of helping hands.
As always, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Prince George Council of Seniors, the Prince George Native Friendship Centre and the Salvation Army are taking applications from those in need and coordinating volunteers and accepting donations right now.
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY
The hamper application office for St. Vincent's is open from Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. until noon and 1 to 3 p.m. until Dec. 6 at 1310 Third Ave. and will accept applications for any family with children 19 years and younger living at home. Applicants are asked to bring care cards for all family members and proof of current address like a rent recent or utility bill.
All four agencies conduct cross references to best serve all community members, making sure there is no over lap.
The community can assist by making donations.
"We're always very grateful for any donations we receive," Bernie Goold, chair of St. Vincent de Paul Society, said.
At this time of year toys for children and gifts for teens are most welcome and small items for single parents, even mugs filled with sweets, are also welcome because as Goold said "who gives a single parent a Christmas present?"
Goold also suggested if you're looking to regift a new item, that might be something to consider donating, which would then be given to that parent in need. Other suggested items are toques, mitts, gloves, socks and scarves.
As the non-profit is always looking for volunteers, there is information online detailing different options.
"We need volunteers to put the hampers together, delivering them, which takes place on Dec. 21 and then to help with Christmas meals," Goold said.
How it works for St. Vincent de Paul Society is that 80 per cent of all the non-perishable food items are donated to their food bank during the pre-holiday season and that has to last them throughout most of the year. They offer emergency hampers all year round.
The society purchases the food that will be included in the Christmas hampers to ensure they are all the same.
PRINCE GEORGE COUNCIL OF SENIORS
Those who wish to apply for a Christmas hamper from the Council of Seniors must be at least 55 years old and low income. Applicants must bring in photo ID, proof of residence can be a utility bill or bank statement, along with proof of income and they can apply until Dec. 6 at the resource centre, 721 Victoria St., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Household income is considered, not individual's income.
There is a choice of receiving a turkey or ham, and the council tries their best to accommodate special dietary needs, Lola-Dawn Fennell, general manager, said.
"The goal is to provide all the makings for one festive meal as well as groceries for another seven days," Fennell explained. "The reason for the seven days is that cheques come out a week early in December so people end up with an extra week between their December and January cheque and for some folks that's a real hardship."
This is an annual project for the Council of Seniors, while other agencies provide food hampers to the community throughout the year.
Delivery days will be Dec. 16 and 17, with as many people picking up their hampers as possible.
Community members can help by donating any non-perishable food items being mindful of being healthy, including those that are unsweetened like canned fruit and juice or sodium reduced items like soup or crackers. Bulk items cannot be broken down into smaller sizes so please, Fennell said, no giant boxes of anything.
"We cannot accept home preserves, homemade food or candy, and absolutely no scented anything," Fennell said. "So no personal care items, including soaps, are on the wish list largely due to the scent issues."
Volunteers and recipients have had allergic reactions to scented items in the past and the council of seniors does not want a repeat this year.
The full list of suggestions is online at www.pgcos.ca or people can pick up a hard copy at the office. Deadline for donations is Dec. 10 so volunteers can organize more than 200 hampers that are distributed each year.
There is no funding for this project, Fennell added.
"So we rely 100 per cent on donations from the community," Fennell said. "People can donate cash, grocery store gift cards or non-perishable food items."
If people are interested they can sponsor a hamper in the amount of $200 or people can get the list of items each hamper contains and shop themselves and then provide a $50 gift card that will cover the perishable items on the hamper list.
Charitable tax receipts are available.
Volunteers are needed. Fennell said anyone who is looking for a bit of a physical workout while volunteering is most welcome. Grocery items need to be taken to the basement to be organized into hampers, then hampers are packed and then when it's time for delivery hampers need to be taken back up the stairs. Volunteers can sign up for two and four hour shifts. Call 250-564-5888 for more information and to volunteer.
THE PRINCE GEORGE NATIVE FRIENDSHIP CENTRE
Anyone who wants a Christmas hamper is eligible to apply at the Native Friendship Centre, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
People can go to the front counter at the Friendship Centre to fill out an application with a recent piece of mail to verify their residence. People are asked that if they can pick up their hamper that would make it much easier for the centre and organizers are offering bus tickets to make that happen.
"Those people who have disabilities that prevent them from traveling are who we will support by delivering their hamper," said Erin Anderlini, director of health at the Native Friendship Centre.
Funding for the Christmas hampers is in part from gaming funding, she added. Groups and Individuals donate toys for the children on the list, while other volunteers will take the time to wrap those gifts to be included in the hampers.
The local Native Friendship Centre has a food bank that is accessible throughout the year and also offers those in need emergency food hampers whenever required.
The priority is always food for hampers to cover off the basic needs of those who are in need.
Basic staples needed throughout the year are on the wish list like tomato sauce, tuna, peanut butter, boxed pasta, soup and beans.
For more information, call 250-564-3568.
THE SALVATION ARMY
To get a Salvation Army Christmas hamper people can apply in person every Tuesday and Thursday at 9:30 a.m. at the food bank, 3500 18th Ave., until the end of November. People are asked to bring photo ID, income and shelter expenses. Anyone can apply.
"We have two streams for donations this year," Terra LaFlamme, community ministries supervisor, said. "We have Adopt-A-Family, where companies or individuals or family can sponsor a family in need."
Donations for that program are food and gifts for each family member.
"We also have angel trees that will be placed in the community next week," LaFlamme said.
The trees will have tags with the age of a child on each and people can take a tag, make a purchase at the store that is age appropriate and put the tag on the unwrapped donation and bring it to any Salvation Army location.
Any non-perishable food items that are donated during the holiday season go to the food bank for those in need and money collected through the kettle campaign will go towards purchasing food for the hampers given for Christmas. That way everyone gets exactly the same items.
This year the Salvation Army is looking for volunteers for gift wrapping sessions where parents can come into the Salvation Army to select and wrap gifts for their children.
"That makes it a little more purposeful and fun," LaFlamme said.
For more information call 250-564-4000 ext 224 or email terra_laflamme@can.salvationarmy.org.
