The Christmas Cheer Board may be doing well this year, but with just two weeks left before Christmas, they still need help delivering goods.
“Actually we’re looking very, very good, but there are things we need,” said Kai Madsen of the Christmas Cheer Board. “In terms of being organized and having hampers and gifts, and all of those things, that’s well in hand,” he added.
Madsen said they have to raise a significant amount of money. The cheer board has a $900,000 price tag they have to fill in order to pay for all the goods they purchase.
“The whole program is about $2 million, and half of that is donated product and toys, and so on. Then the other $1 million roughly, or $900,000, we have to raise, otherwise we aren’t able to pay the bills,” said Madsen.
He said the cheer board is expecting to hit about 18,500 hampers this season, processing more than 11,000 applications so far.
“It’s a Christmas hamper, so there will be cookies and cake mix. There will be some candy, and so on. And of course, with that comes the turkey and gifts for the kids,” said Madsen.
On opening day Thursday, the cheer board saw 700 families show up.
“They were literally lined up around the edge of the building, inside, of course,” said Madsen. “Lot of people.”
He said the same day they opened doors for pickups, they started delivering hampers, and that’s where he says there’s a need for drivers.
“We have our delivery process set up in such a way, you don’t have to commit the entire day. In other words, if you want to come in and deliver four hampers, fine, you can then shop the other half of that day and if you have a good time, and have more time on your hands, come back and do another four, or six,” he laughed.
Madsen said that the number of people in need of hampers has levelled off over the past four to five years.
To volunteer or make a donation to the Christmas Cheer Board, head to their website.
Army reservists, cadets deliver Christmas cheer in annual tradition
It’s an annual tradition that began more than 30 years ago, in 1984.
Army reservists and cadets loaded up their military vehicles with hampers for delivery Saturday morning to support the Christmas Cheer Board.
Members of the Fort Garry Horse and the Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps attended the Christmas Cheer Board for the Exercise Parcel Push.
Every year soldiers and cadets deliver hampers to less-fortunate families mainly throughout Winnipeg’s North End.
(Source: McGregor Armoury)
