Ramping up with Christmas Cheer
BY KIM LANGEN
Plans to fill dozens of Christmas baskets with cheer this year are sledding forward, despite the tight pandemic restrictions.
“We are pressing ahead as best as we can,” said Petchie Hawkins, Killarney and Area Foodbank operations manager, who is part of the team organizing Killarney’s Christmas Cheer campaign. “We would still like to do both the food and the gifts. We are going to forge ahead until we come to a roadblock.”
The province’s Code Red means that only essential shopping can be done by customers, so sourcing enough gifts – which are often deemed non-essential items – is going to take some creative thought, she said.
Each year the group assembles a well-stocked food/gift basket for families or individuals around town and the surrounding area who need a boost at the holiday time.
“Last year we helped 83 families, and so far this year we have 42 requests,” said Hawkins.
Drop off boxes for non-perishable food items are currently located in several locations in Killarney, and the deadline date for food donations is Tuesday, December 8.
New, unwrapped gifts can be donated at these same boxes until Saturday, December 5, she added.
“We are always short of men’s gifts, and gifts for older teenage boys,” said Hawkins. “What are some good ideas? Hats, gloves, scarves, outerwear, board games, guy movies, books, tools, and tool sets, body wash, flash drives, keepsakes, whatever guys like.”
Donors who wish to drop off new toys or gifts, but don’t want to enter the public areas, can also arrange for a no-contact drop-off, said Hawkins.
“People can call me at 1-888-280-5950 to arrange a safe drop-off,” she said.
Cash donations are also warmly welcomed, she added, and they can be mailed to Christmas Cheer, Box 193, Killarney, MB, R0K 1G0; dropped off at Westoba Credit Union; or sent by e-transfer at: [email protected]
For more information, see the ad below.
Fa-la-la-la fill a sleigh with cash instead of toys
Until December 5, Red Apple stores across Canada will be collecting donations for local community charities, and in Killarney it’s Christmas Cheer.
The holidays are a season of giving, and Fill a Sleigh Day (on December 5) has become an important way our stores give back to the communities where we do business,” said Red Apple’s manager Melodie Gordon.
Killarney Red Apple will donate 10 per cent of all store sales on Saturday, December 5 (one day only) to the Killarney Christmas Cheer program. And this year they will donate 10 per cent of all cash donations on the day as well.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions there will be no toy sales, so help to fill the sleigh with cash instead on Saturday, December 5.
A CHRISTMAS SLEIGH LOADED WITH CASH – Melodie Gordon, manager of the Red Apple store, enjoys a little ride in the Turtle Mountain Flywheel Club’s vintage sleigh, along with a reindeer, currently residing inside the Broadway Ave. shop. Red Apple is supporting the Killarney Food Bank’s Christmas Cheer program, and is hoping to fill the sleigh with lots of cash donations on Saturday, December 5.
JAY STRUTH/KILLARNEY GUIDE