The annual Brandon-Westman Christmas Cheer campaign is underway, but the group has put a cap on the number of hampers they’ll assemble this season.
They say putting together last year’s record-breaking 1,200 hampers was too hard on volunteers – so this year, the limit is 1,100.
Organizers hope you’ll help fill the gap in demand by making hampers for more individual ‘adopted’ families this Christmas. You can register to provide a hamper on the Christmas Cheer website until November 17.
A list of items can also be found on their website – Home | Christmas Cheer (brandonwestmanchristmascheer.ca) Along with non-perishable food items, you can donate new unwrapped toys, books, board games, craft kits, mittens, gloves, hats, scarves, and socks.
You can also make donations of cash or cheques at the Christmas Cheer office at 710 Rosser Avenue. It’s open Monday to Friday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm – or you can make a donation by e-transfer, Paypal, e-wallets and through the online charity CanadaHelps at Donate to Canadian Charities Online | CanadaHelps
The downtown office will expand its hours from November 27 through December 14 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily with a closure for lunch each day from noon to 1:00 pm. It’ll close for the season on December 15 at noon.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
-Christmas Cheer will have a table at Canadian Tire to collect donations from November 20-26.
-The annual “Fill the Bus” event takes place on November 25 at Sobeys West – and at the Corral Centre Safeway on December 2.
-The Brandon Wheat Kings’ annual ‘Teddy Bear Toss’ game is on Saturday, December 16. You can also donate toques, gloves and socks at the event, but organizers ask that you protect those donations by placing them in plastic bags.
(With files from the CBC and The Brandon Sun)
HOW TO APPLY:
The Christmas Cheer Registry office does not accept applications directly from applicants. All people applying for a hamper must be referred through a social agency. Below is a list of agencies they work closely with to make sure needs are met. If you would like to receive a hamper – contact one of the following agencies:
-Any school liaison worker
-Child and Family Services
-Brandon Friendship Centre
-Prairie Mountain Health (Public Health or Mental Health workers)
-Salvation Army
-Employment Insurance Assistance
-Any Social Services Care Worker
-Women’s Resource Center
-Westman Immigrant Services
-7th Street Health Access
**NOTE** Samaritan House Ministries will not be assisting with Hamper Applications this year.
As per our mission statement, families with children will be our main focus for 2023 hampers. For others receiving hampers, the priority will be in the order that they are applied for. Later applications may not receive hampers if family needs are too great to accommodate others. Please contact your agency before our application closing date: Friday, November 17, 2023.
HOW TO ADOPT-A-FAMILY:
Businesses, organizations, and individuals can adopt a family to provide them with a Christmas hamper that includes food, gifts for children and necessary items. You can adopt an individual, small, medium or a large family. Visit the Christmas Cheer website for info about hamper contents, & to fill out the form to be matched with a family:
Adopt A Family | Christmas Cheer (brandonwestmanchristmascheer.ca
