Christmas Hamper program celebrates 40 years of helping community

By Rob Vogt
For 40 years, the Claresholm Christmas Hamper program has been helping those in need to have a nice Christmas dinner.
Roxanne Thompson, retired publisher of the Claresholm Local Press who is organizing the Christmas hampers, said the program has been running at least 40 years, starting back when Paul Rockley was publisher of the newspaper.
Claresholm and District Family and Community Support Services and the Claresholm Housing Authority also help with the hamper program, which is its own entity, separate from the food bank.
The program serves Claresholm and Stavely, while Granum has its own hamper program.
Thompson suspects with the economic situation and affordability continuing to be an issue, there will be a greater demand.
“There’s a lot of people in need,” she said.
The deadline for applications for Christmas hampers was Dec. 11, and has passed.
No late applications will be accepted, because numbers are needed to order the appropriate amount of food, assemble the hampers, and deliver them.
Each applicant receives a complete Christmas dinner including a turkey or ham, depending on what the applicant requested; fresh potatoes and carrots; stuffing mix; gravy mix; buns; a box of chocolates; cranberries; a box of party crackers; a box of oranges; canned vegetables; pickles; and an IGA gift card for other fresh items.
This year all hampers again will be delivered.
The delivery date is the morning of Friday, Dec. 22.
Thompson is still looking for volunteers who will deliver hampers, with deliveries done in teams of two.
Each pair will deliver five hampers.
Confidentiality is maintained at all times, so drivers will only receive an address to deliver to, with no names attached.
The program is accepting donations of dried goods and $25 IGA gift cards, for perishable items, until Tuesday, Dec. 19.
Donations can be dropped off at the Claresholm Local Press.
Cash donations are always welcome, and can also be dropped off at the Local Press. Cheques can be made out to “Claresholm Christmas Hampers”.
Suggested donations for hampers include cash; canned vegetables; stovetop stuffing; pickles/olives; turkey gravy mix; jello/pudding; Christmas nuts, candy or chocolates; canned fruit; canned cranberries; and a variety of crackers.
Cash donations are used to purchase turkeys, hams, potatoes, carrots, and buns.
“This year, with the price of groceries, we’ll be needing more cash,” Thompson said.
Other items to include in hampers are cereal and hot oatmeal; cookies; pasta and sauce; rice and noodle packages; sugar; juice mix; coffee; peanut butter, honey, and jam; hot chocolate mix; tea; canned soup, vegetables, beans and meats.
IGA has also been offering an opportunity to purchase a grab bag at the till for $10, which includes some items for the hampers. These grab bags will then be included in the hampers when they are assembled.
Thompson said all food donated will be distributed among the hampers.
She also asks anyone donating food, especially if it has been in their household awhile, to ensure the food is not past its expiry date.
Last year, 138 hampers were distributed, up from 120 the year before.
This year, Thompson estimates the number will exceed 140 hampers.
She noted the program has grown significantly over the years, from initially providing 20 hampers. Because of that growth, it has become a challenge every year to find a place to assemble the hampers.
Anyone interested in volunteering to be a driver can contact Roxanne Thompson at 403-625-1105.
For more information, or donating, please contact the Claresholm Local Press at 403-625-4474 or Claresholm and District Family and Community Support Services at 403-625-4417.