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Church hampers full of grace

The young Christmas hamper program at Red Willow Community Church nearly died out this year after the economic downturn drove demand up while snuffing out its bank account. Thankfully, a resurgence in community support kept it going albeit with a smaller reach than originally hoped for.
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Marian Rochford, right, and Leslie Benson organise the Red Willow Christmas Hamper program and are seen here with some of the donations December 13, 2019. DAN RIEDLHUBER/St. Albert Gazette

The Red Willow Community Church’s young yet otherwise strong and growing Christmas hamper program found itself floundering this year. Despite financial obstacles, it is still coming around though with a narrower impact well one-third shy of its original goal.

“Last year, we did 99 baskets. Over five years, it really grew,” began Marian Rochford, the church’s administrative pastor and volunteer co-ordinator of the program.

“Last year, the economy really hit here in church giving. A year ago when we did the Christmas hampers, we used up all our money. Usually I try and keep a couple of thousand as seed money for the next year. We had to make a decision if we were going to go forward with this or not. We didn't have any funds.”

From 99 in 2018, the program has now receded down to 61 for the 2019 effort. Rochford is grateful that at least it has been able to hold on.

The hamper program started when one of the congregation’s families began a grassroots effort to reach out to people in the community who have found themselves struggling financially. The church already works hand-in-hand with the St. Albert Food Bank as the volunteer force behind the colossal Food Drive held every year in the fall. The church holds the philosophy of serving all people, not just those who already subscribe to the same beliefs, so it strives to help anyone and everyone in need.

That’s why its hampers come with gift cards for groceries instead of the actual food itself.

“We didn't want to put the food in there because cultures are different. We didn't want to say, ‘Well, this is what we provided for your Christmas dinner’ and they don't eat that kind of thing.”

The way it works is through referrals offered via city schools. Rochford gets principals to “vet” out those families that were the most needing within their schools. Each child gets an age-appropriate gift and, if there's a single parent, another gift is included for them, too, plus an appropriate family game and a box of either chocolates or cookies, all tucked inside a reusable plastic tub.

Its first offering touched 20 families in 2015, and grew to nearly 100 at its peak in 2018. That might have been its last delivery if it weren’t for the support of the community, with many private donations and major corporate support from the Avery Linton Legacy Foundation, CentiMark Ltd., Gayle’s Decorating, Rockland Landscaping Supplies and Padmanadi Vegan Restaurant.

Rochford couldn’t thank people enough.

“Just the response was fantastic. It didn't die ... our program didn't die, even though we're over half of what we did last year, we're really happy about that, but we were able to do the program. It's happening.”

There is still time to offer further support, she added, looking for a last-minute angel. Volunteers will gather at the church Sunday evening to put together the hampers, and she’ll still be checking her email at [email protected] just in case.


Scott Hayes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

About the Author: Scott Hayes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Ecology and Environment Reporter at the Fitzhugh Newspaper since July 2022 under Local Journalism Initiative funding provided by News Media Canada.
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