Steinbach starts waiting list for hampers as needs soar

Families are now being placed on a waiting list for Christmas hampers in Steinbach. Registration ended on November 30th and there are more families who need hampers than what was planned for. 

“The number that we had budgeted for, which was 1350 hampers for this year, we already reached that number on November 25th,” says hamper coordinator Carolyn Peters. “So, what we did at that point is we turned our online registration into a waiting list registration.” 

This is quite an increase from the 1313 hampers that were given out last year. While going through the registration forms, Peters says half the families are indicating that they are really struggling to make ends meet, especially with Christmas approaching. 

“I would say probably every second application that I read, it's about ‘we just can't make ends meet with the price of groceries, we really need to decide do we buy groceries, or do we pay a bill?’ So, there's lots of sobering information about the reality of people who live next door to us or very close to us in the neighborhood or whatever, who are struggling, and we just don't have any idea. And we do what we can do, which is what we're doing.” 

Carolyn Peters and Roger Blatz.

She notes Grunthal Community Christmas has agreed to help with Steinbach's waiting list by taking care of 25 families who were on the waiting list. 

“Their numbers seem to be a little bit lower this year and so they've agreed to take on some of our wait list, which they also did last year, which is amazing because we can then help more families.” 

On December 1st, there were still 35 families on the waiting list.

How can we help move names from the waiting list onto the recipient list? 

“We need monetary donations so that our committee can go out and purchase more food or get more food from some of our donors and we can fill more boxes. That really is the bottom line.”

It costs between $250 and $275 for each hamper. Peters says we can choose to sponsor a hamper, adding that donations in any amount will really help families who need some extra support over the holidays. 

She points out that Southeast Helping Hands is committed to helping as many families as possible. 

“Steinbach Community Christmas is a project of Southeast Helping Hands so money that comes in, in December, will go towards the project of Christmas Hampers, which is always so amazing because by default, there are organizations that donate to our local food bank on a regular basis. The month of December turns into a Community Christmas project, which is something we're so grateful to Southeast Helping Hands for, and of course our corporate community and all the personal donations that come in,” Peters explains. “We couldn't do this obviously, without everyone, but again, there's a need. And so, we put out the call for donations for filling the food hampers.” 

Steinbach Community Christmas provides hampers to families in Steinbach, Blumenort, Mitchell, La Broquerie, Zhoda, Woodridge, Sandilands, St. Labre, and Marchand. 

Donations can be made online through their website at steinbachcommunitychristmas.com or by dropping off a donation at Southeast Helping Hands, at 525 Main Street in Steinbach. There is also a secure drop box if you bring your donation outside office hours. Peters says they are willing to pick up monetary donations if that is more convenient for people who want to help.

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Toys Days is on December 5 and 6 at Canadian Tire…and we went shopping! Steinbach Community Christmas is getting hampers ready to deliver, and we have all been tasked with getting enough toys together so each kid in the community has a toy to open Christmas morning.

♬ Family Christmas - Mr. Popolo

"Aside from the cost of food, there are many other costs associated with preparing the food & toy hampers for Community Christmas," Peters says. "The actual value of the food this year will be in the range of $130 per hamper. The retail value would run in the range of $200. We also have to pay for things like fuel to run the reefers that store the food, wrapping for the donated sausage and Bothwell cheese (which we get in bulk), special food for our gluten-sensitive and halal clients, batteries that are included for each toy that requires them, and so on. We would estimate each hamper costs us approximately $300 to prepare, start to finish."

There are nearly 2,000 children registered for gifts this year and it is up to the community to provide new, unwrapped toys. Bring your donations to Canadian Tire in Steinbach on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 5 and 6, during the annual Toys Days.

The first group of hampers will be delivered on Monday, December 11th. 

-With files from Carly Koop.

 

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