The Christmas Cheer Board needs a small army of volunteers to spread holiday cheer to thousands, and with a logistical challenge like that, sometimes they call in the actual army.

For more than 30 years, Canadian Armed Forces reservists with Fort Garry Horse have taken part in ‘Operation Parcel Push’ helping the Cheer Board deliver its hampers.

"It's a great day for the soldiers, giving a little bit of Christmas to people in need,” said Master Warrant Officer Robert Jones. “Especially seeing the smiles on the children's faces when we bring the presents. It's a great day."

It’s a pretty good day for the people on the receiving end of a hamper as well, particularly when they’re not expecting it to be hand delivered by the Canadian Forces.

"So kind of them to give their time like that, you know?” said Patricia Hannon after the soldiers had been to her home. “They probably don't get much time with their own families, so it's really nice that they do that."

Over the two weeks leading up to Christmas Eve, the Cheer Board plans to deliver 18,000 hampers.

Each one contains everything a family needs to prepare Christmas dinner plus toys for any children in the house.

Gill Bramwell and his wife are just two of the 4,000 volunteers who help pull the operation off.

"We're rookies at it, but they made us feel very welcome very quickly,” said Bramwell. “It's been quite an experience. It's quite an organization here the way they have it set up, that's for sure."

As a volunteer delivery driver since the early 1980s, Tom Harden has dropped off hundreds of hampers and he says he gets something in return every time.

"A lot of sincere thank yous. If there's kids involved, they're really excited,” said Harden. “And sometimes you get a candy cane out of it."

The Cheer Board needs a steady stream of drivers between now and Christmas Eve, a challenge the group’s executive director hopes Winnipeggers will meet.

"I have the good fortune to see the very best in people because that's what happens at Christmas time,” said Kai Madsen.

In addition to the volunteer drivers, the Christmas Cheer Board also needs cash donations to meet its annual budget of $850,000.