Roger Blatz


Community Christmas Charity Challenge is still running in Steinbach according to Spokesperson Roger Blatz.  "We collect money till the money doesn't come in, it could be January.  We've been going for a week and a half and are planning to wrap up today(Wednesday).  We have 750 hampers to deliver in total.  That is a bit down from last year which is exciting because this is one time you want numbers down.  It's not down a huge chunk but enough that we have hampers left over.  Last year we were digging turkeys out of barns, almost, to fill all the hampers."  He expects about 375 will be delivered on this final delivery day.

Blatz says volunteers make this possible.  "We have an awesome committee and have people who are organized which is what we need.  We have awesome volunteers and have so many of them including the Steinbach Pistons who are again helping out.  Sorry to all the people that didn't get a chance to volunteer.  For next year, sign up early.  We have a volunteer coordinator so leave your name and number at the foodbank on the answering machine."

He adds a big thank you has to be said.  "We were looking for approximately 1,300 toys.  We've done it and we are good on toys.  Money, we can always use more because we have operating funds throughout the year.  We are very close to our goal and are over $100,000.  With it we buy groceries for our hampers so the hampers are all the same.  It would be really hard to collect 3,000 cans of corn that are all the same, so that everyone gets the same thing.  We need an operating fund to run the Southeast Helping Hands building during the rest of the year and there are always small things that we need throughout the year."

If you would still like to donate, Blatz says there are a few options.  "Come to Southeast Helping Hands or you can go online to the South East Helping Hands website and click the "donate now" button. You can use your credit card to donate (which also lets you collect credit card points!)".

He notes it's always good to see everything come together.  "Five days ago we were short money and toys were still coming in.  We always have to remember that we have to be patient and trust that it's all going to come together and it usually does in the end.  We have a great community."