Sharing the Christmas Spirit Hamper Program is running.
Volunteers and donors from across Comox Valley are working together to create gift hampers. More than 530 families will receive the hampers, including presents and non-perishable food.
Rob Phillips and Annette Bowden co-ordinate the event every year. The action starts when the 鈥淗amper Hotline鈥� opens each year on Nov. 1.
鈥淭wo groups of people call in,鈥� said Phillips. 鈥淧eople who want to sponsor, or people who want to put themselves on the list.鈥�
The hotline allows residents to sign themselves up to donate food and gifts to other families in the Valley, or to sign up and receive gifts from other families.
Thanks to the contribution from sponsors, including SD 71 and SD 93, the program fills up roughly 1,300 hampers each season. These hampers go out to families across the Valley.
Each family receives up to seven hampers based on family size. They also receive a turkey dinner. This is done in partnership with Hugh鈥檚 Your Independent Grocer.
Volunteers deliver the hampers on Dec. 22.
The hamper program is operating out of Comox Valley Dodge this year. Phillips said he鈥檚 thankful for the collaboration, as empty space is hard to come by this time of the year. Other programs like Santa鈥檚 Workshop also look for empty warehouse space during Christmas time.
Phillips said the list is nearly full, however interested people can still phone 250-334-4913.
