Santa’s helpers in St. Albert – 13 ladies strong – are geared up for the 47th annual Kinette Christmas Hamper Campaign. Red bins are now set up at St. Albert Centre, businesses and schools around town, collecting non-perishable foods and new, unwrapped toys for families in need. And while the red boxes will take donations through Dec. 12, the hamper campaign will get a huge boost Dec. 7 with the Fill A Bus event.
For 12 years, Dave and Barb Stevenson have taken the reins for Fill A Bus, recruiting family and Dave’s fellow bus drivers to collect food, toys and cash donations on the one-day annual blitz. The event is co-sponsored by St. Albert Transit, and will see buses posted at both Safeway stores, Canadian Tire, both Save-on Foods, Walmart, Superstore, Sobeys and – new this year – the Costco location at the north end of town.
“We couldn’t do any of this without volunteers like the Stevensons, who take on Fill A Bus as their own,” said Kinette Club of St. Albert president Kim Bedry. “The community comes together in such a big way every year. People here have big hearts—we all want every family to have a Christmas meal and every child to have a gift under the tree.”
This year, the hamper wish list includes chunky soups, peanut butter, pasta, canned meats and fruits, and toiletries like diapers, toothpaste and toilet paper. Toys for infants and toddlers up to age three are needed too, as are gifts for teens aged 14 to 17 – think gift cards and movie passes.
Cash donations are welcome at Fire Hall No. 3 (100 Giroux Rd.), and will be used to top up hampers and buy specialty items like gluten-free foods.
“Every donation to our red boxes stay in the community – last year we made 280 hampers, which provides two to three weeks of food, a fresh Christmas dinner and gifts for the children,” said Bedry, who gets referrals from local churches and agencies like the Family Resource Centre.
The Kinettes and generous business sponsors cover the basics in each hamper: turkey, ham, potatoes, carrots, cheese, margarine, flour, sugar, vegetables and oranges. Local businesses and individuals can also adopt a hamper, gearing the foods and toys for a family’s specific size and ages of children.
As donations come in, Kinette members and volunteers will take over the greenhouse at the Enjoy Centre, a beautifully lit, comfortable space with good access for volunteers and drivers to do the busy work of assembling nearly 300 hampers.
“It’s an important job, the Kinettes do, and we’re happy to help by providing a welcoming, workable space,” said Jim Hole of the Enjoy Centre.
Kinette member Kathy Van Vulpen said this event is all important to the Kinettes and those in need this Christmas.
“We need tons of volunteers – it’s my second year doing this, and it blows my mind to see how generous everyone is,” she said.
Volunteers are welcome and needed for sorting through Dec. 14 and hamper delivery on Dec. 15 and 16. To offer time, call 780-340-8076 or email [email protected]
