Edmonton charity to provide hampers to 2000 families as they celebrate 20 years

Tis the season of giving those who are in need. 2,000 families in Edmonton are going to be gifted food hampers by the Holiday Hamper Foundation as they celebrate 20 years of service. 

“You can’t really believe, it’s been 20 years,” said Chris, a founding board member of the Holiday Hamper Foundation.

The foundation started by helping one school and 30 families. Two decades later, they are aiming to help and provide food for 2,000 families for the holiday season. 

“We’re actually going for the most families we’ve ever helped, we still need 800 people to sign up and help 800 families, we’re right about 1,200 right now,” said Chris.

One volunteer we spoke to has been in the organization for 15 years said two years ago he had the most memorable moment during his volunteering.

“We had to carry all the food and presents down into the basement suite, and it was the husband, the wife was working and there were three young boys, and the husband like wait, and then the boy comes out and pulls out his accordion and the boy starts playing the accordion for us and we stayed there for 15 minutes,” said Dustin, a volunteer for 15 years with the Holiday Hamper Foundation.

But with bigger goals, come bigger challenges. The hamper has seen increasing demand for the past 10 years.

“It’s tough to see and it is personally sad to see and you want to help out more,” said Dustin.

Chris added, “The big challenge for us is actually every single year raising enough money to actually make this program happen.”

And Chris is still calling out for more families to help other families to celebrate this holiday season.

“It’s really important to remind yourself that we have to give back and we have to help other people.”

On December 21st, the Edmonton EXPO Centre will be filled with volunteers who are going to deliver all the hampers they receive hampers and deliver to families who are in need.