DETAILS
Fill-A-Bus Locations
• Canadian Tire
• Superstore
• Walmart
Saturday, December 5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Visit www.stalbertkin.ca/kinette-club for more information on the group and its hamper campaign.
The St. Albert Kinettes typically collect toy and food donations for their annual Christmas Hamper campaign. As with everybody else, COVID-19 has forced the service club to adjust its operating methods.
That’s why they have requested people make gift card or cash donations to the 54th annual campaign instead this year.
“The less touchpoints we have, the safer it is for everybody as far as volunteers or club members or what have you,” explained Tracy Nadiger, the club’s the service director and PR director.
The 2020 campaign is now underway, and the goal is to collect enough to support 200 to 250 families to get through the typically financially tricky month ahead. The Kinettes also have started an Adopt a Family program for this campaign. The suggested donation is $100 per family member.
December is the season of gifts given and received, and people coming together in celebration. The pandemic, however, is putting a wrinkle on all of those offerings, so the Kinettes (along with their service club cousins – the Kinsmen) are looking to roll with whatever comes their way in the next few weeks as well.
They have a three-phase plan for delivery that should be able to address whatever provincially mandated health restrictions are in place on the weekend of Dec. 13.
“If we’re at the current state where we're allowed 15 people in the building, then we'll continue with community delivery. If there's further lockdown, then we're probably going to shrink the delivery vehicles to just the Kinsmen and Kinettes.”
If everything is fully locked down, the Kinettes would rent a van and deliver the hampers themselves without other volunteer drivers being involved. Both groups follow their own stringent COVID protocols and their "hamper home" at the Kinsmen Banquet Hall also has its own measures in place. All food and toy donations that come in will sit for five to seven days before they get packed into their individual hampers.
This campaign is always a colossal effort of co-ordination, patience and strength, all of which will be tested this time around. Last year, there were 75 volunteer drivers. Sorting the donations took more than 1,000 volunteer hours alone.
For all those tasks and more, much help is still needed in the weeks ahead.
“We always need volunteers to help sort the food, and the challenge will be to keep the groups to 15 ... to keep that number during the (week) where we sort the food and the toys.”
There has already been some interest of help offered by members of the community. Anyone who is interested in volunteer opportunities can send an email to [email protected].
Nadiger and the Kinettes are grateful, if uncertain at the moment, how such volunteer assistance will be able to be utilized in the weeks ahead.
“I think volunteers are always good and if we can find a place for them at a time that works for both of us, then for sure we could use the help.”
To help with the drive, the Kinettes have moved away from hosting an auction at a pub, instead establishing an online auction this year. It can be found at 32auctions.com/kinetteskickoff2020. It ends Friday, Nov. 27 at 8 p.m. and includes some wonderful prizes, including a craft beer tree.
They have also partnered with all three city A&W locations with a promotion to boost donations. Until Dec. 6, you will receive a free coffee or root beer for a donation to the campaign. As well, the city has once again instituted its Toys for Tickets campaign where people who receive a parking ticket can pay it off with a new toy valued at $25 or more.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, no donations can be accepted at Fire Hall #3 as has been done in past years. Please instead call the Kinettes at 587-355-2137 to make arrangements. E-transfers can be made to [email protected] (please state if you need a tax receipt) or you can also mail your donation to The Kinette Club of St. Albert Christmas Hamper Program, PO Box 65064 Mission Hill Plaza, St. Albert, Alberta, T8N 5Y4.
You can also plan ahead to make your donations during the annual one-day blitz known as Fill-a-Bus. This year's event, led by St. Albert Transit and Diversified Transportation, takes place Saturday, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The deadline for donations is Tuesday, Dec. 8, which will allow them the time to sort the items and let them sit for a few days. As part of their staged plan, the Kinettes might split toy and food delivery in order to minimize the number of people that have to be in the hall at any one time. The good news is that the group is up to the challenge to ensure joy and goodwill are spread as far and as wide as they can this year.
"It's a big effort, that's for sure, but it's worth it. I think that the people that receive the hampers are very appreciative. There's lots of emotion. I think with COVID this year, it's needed more than ever."
