ST. PAUL – The 2022 St. Paul Community Christmas Hamper program is now accepting donations.
Organized by the St. Paul Knights of Columbus in the past and transitioned to the St. Paul FCSS department in recent years, the program is a yearly staple that offers a food and gifts to those in need over the holiday season.
The program allows community members the opportunity to “build a connection with their loved ones while sharing a meal over the holiday season,” according to information from the St. Paul Regional Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) website.
For the “food hamper” portion of the program, individuals can donate cash in person at the St. Paul Regional FCSS office, Cornerstone Co-op, Sobeys, or Extra Foods.
No actual food items are being accepted for the food hamper program, as the hampers are put together with the donated cash by local grocery stores, according to St. Paul FCSS director Lynn Smid. This ensures that hampers are similar and needed products are included.
Meanwhile, toys and monetary donations are being accepted at the St. Paul Regional High School for the “Santa Elves” portion of the program. Donations for Santa Elves can also be mailed to 4701-44 Street.
Drop-off boxes are also available at the Giant Tiger, Canadian Tire, and Peavey Mart locations.
Coming together for a good cause
Dawn Robitaille, with St. Paul Regional High School, has been involved with Santa’s Elves for about 28 years. Santa’s Elves is organized in conjunction with the Town of St. Paul, collecting gifts and names of children in the community who may benefit from the program.
Robitaille says the cash donations are used to purchase gifts for families. Leading up to Christmas, the toys are brought to the Recreation Centre where they are added to the food hampers.
“It’s important that every kid feels the same at Christmas,” she says.
“It’s our way of helping parents out, to help our children be maybe just a little bit happier at Christmas... every kid deserves a gift under the tree,” says Robitaille. Some families may have a hard time putting foot on the table, “let alone buying gifts.”
Robitaille says the community organization “Protection for the Unprotected (PFTU)” will also begin its toy drive on Nov. 26 at the St. Paul Canadian Tire between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
According to information from the PFTU, the group’s mission includes advocating child safety and preventing child abuse in partnership with other community support services.
“The Town, members of the community, and businesses have been very generous over the years,” says Robitaille.
She also noted that while there has been a decline in donations, which she believes is a result of a declining economy, “this town really comes together when there’s a good cause.”
Connecting to those in need
Individuals can give the St. Paul FCSS a call at 780-645-5311 if they would like to receive a Community Christmas Hamper or would like to refer other people or family to the program.
Interested parties can call on or before Dec. 15 to be included in the program. The hamper pick-up will be taking place at the St. Paul Rec. Centre on Dec. 20.
“We are very grateful to our partners,” says Smid. “We know that there’s always a need in the community to support people during this time of year.”
