THUNDER BAY - Sometimes a helping hand is all that it takes to bring a smile to someone’s face and organizers with the Christmas Cheer Fund want to make as many people smile as possible, but they need the community to step up and help make it happen.
“It’s that special moment in time when you get to look at someone’s face and they actually have a smile on their face and don’t look like a deer in the headlights, wondering: what am I going to do,” said Jolene Kemp, chairperson of the Christmas Cheer Fund.
But according to Kemp, donations from the public have been very slow this year, and with only a week until Christmas Cheer hampers are handed out to the public, there is concern about having enough for everyone.
“Things have been very quiet in terms of the public’s response,” Kemp said. “We’ve seen on social media that the schools have embraced the idea of a gift box and the joy of giving.”
“The children are doing their part. They want to bring in as many non-perishable food items as they can. But the public, I think with all the other charities, is thinking we’ve got lots of time for Christmas Cheer.”
Kemp added that financial contributions, which pay for the turkeys and fruit included in the hampers is also very slow coming in, but the need in the community remains.
“As soon as the phone lines were turned on, the phones started ringing and they haven’t stopped ringing for families, some for the first time saying: we don’t want to do this, but we don’t have a choice. We can’t make ends meet,” Kemp said.
Last year, the Christmas Cheer Fund provided hampers to more than 8,000 people and Kemp said she anticipates seeing that same number this year, if not surpassing it.
“Many of these families are regular users of a food bank or soup kitchen on a regular basis,” Kemp said. “You can imagine the number. It’s a significant number. The nice thing about Christmas Cheer is we are doing one little thing. We know we can’t change the problem, but we are doing one little thing to bring a smile to people’s faces.”
More than 1,000 volunteers will be assisting with the Christmas Cheer Fund and food will be sorted next Monday, with pickup for people living on the north side of the city on Tuesday Dec. 17 and Wednesday Dec. 18 for those living on the south side.
Donations can be made by texting 20222 or visiting the Christmas Cheer Fund office at Coliseum building on the CLE grounds. There will be a Blitz Day on Dec. 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 12 Hours of Cheer on Dec. 16 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. where people can drop off donations at the CLE Coliseum.
“We are now hoping that the public who don’t have children in the school system or haven’t heard what’s going are going to step up and come in and make financial contributions,” Kemp said. “When the message gets out, it’s a wonderful opportunity to do something special at Christmas.”
For more information visit the Christmas Cheer Fund website.
