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Hamper association expects a busy season

The ongoing economic slowdown in the Estevan area is expected to result in a growing demand for the services of the Community Hamper Association – the organization tasked with providing hampers for people in the city every year.

The ongoing economic slowdown in the Estevan area is expected to result in a growing demand for the services of the Community Hamper Association – the organization tasked with providing hampers for people in the city every year.

The association will start accepting hamper applications and referrals on Nov. 1. Association co-chair Char Seeman said in an interview with the Mercury they are expecting to fill up to 300 hampers this year, which would be a dramatic increase from a year ago, when there were around 180 hampers.

“We’ve already had a few people phoning and asking (about hampers), and I keep asking them to hang on and hold off until Nov. 1,” said Seeman.

The association is basing their projections on the burgeoning demand at the Estevan Salvation Army, which has experienced a 65 per cent increase in the number of hampers they fill year-round.

Seeman hopes they will have all the hamper applications in by Dec. 6, but they always get some requests after the deadline. Last year they had an influx of hamper requests at the last minute, which Seeman attributed to the price of oil, which was already in decline.

“We did two hampers on December 24,” said Seeman. 

It’s the first time since she’s been involved with the association where they were filling a hamper on Christmas Eve. 

“We’ve had them on the 22nd and the 23rd, but not on the 24th,” said Seeman. 

The bulk of the hampers are filled by individuals, families, businesses, churches and community organizations. The hamper group had to fill more than 20 on their own last year. 
So they need new supporters to step forward and fill hampers this year, so they can meet the projected increase in demand. 

Donors will provide the food for the hamper; they
don’t have to worry about adding toys, clothes, a Christmas tree or other items. 

People who want to provide a hamper can contact one of the association’s members, or one of the churches – the Salvation Army, St. Giles Anglican Church, St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church and St. Paul’s United Church – who comprise the hamper organization. 

“We’re going to need a lot of support this year, because there’s no way possible that we are going to be able to handle all these hampers,” said Seeman. 

Many people think they have to receive a hamper from the Salvation Army at some point in the year to receive a hamper through the association. However, that is not the case, as many people who benefit from the hamper association each Christmas are young families who make ends meet 11 months of the year; but at Christmas time, they can’t afford the Christmas presents and the other financial pressures. 

“We’re here for the lower-income families that don’t need the help during the year, but need the help at Christmas,” said Seeman. 

“I know a lot of people said ‘I wish I could have got one of those, but I don’t get a hamper from the Salvation Army. And I said ‘You don’t have to be getting help from the Salvation Army all year, or ever.’”

A hamper will include a traditional Christmas meal, including turkey, stuffing, potatoes, buns, salad and other foods.

“There’s enough to keep you eating for a week, and to hold you over through the Christmas season,” said Seeman. 

A small hamper will feed one or two people. Then there are medium hampers to feed three to five people, and large hampers for at least six people. If it’s a really large family, they will add to the contents. 

Due to the demand this year, the Community Hamper Association is asking that hamper recipients be home for Christmas. 

The Community Hamper Association will also operate the Angel Tree program, which provides toys for hamper recipients with children. 

Seeman said the tree will be set up later than normal this year, as it will be running from Dec. 10 to 20 at Walmart. Supporters said it was set up a little too soon last year, and they weren’t thinking about the program when it started. 

The Angel Tree will be adorned with pink angels for girls and blue angels for boys, and it will have an age inscribed. Seeman expects there will be a greater demand for the Angel Tree this year, thanks to the projected rise in the number of hampers. 
Donations of warm materials, such as toques, mitts and scarves, will also be accepted. 

Volunteers will be needed for the Angel Tree, which will be set up from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day.

The toys and other items collected through the Angel Tree will be set up in an improvised toy store on Dec. 22 and 23 at St. Giles Anglican Church. Hamper recipients with children can visit the toy store to select a toy to add to the hamper. 
“We’re going to try to coordinate it with when they’re going to be picking up their hampers, so that people don’t have to make two trips,” said Seeman. 

They recognize it’s close to Christmas, but Seeman said they’re confident it will work out. And they’re also confident the community will come through with support for the hamper association this year, and help them meet their needs.