Gimli-based Evergreen Basic Needs (EBN) launched its Christmas-hamper fundraising drive as high food prices continue to put undue financial pressure on individuals and families in the communities the food bank serves.
Generous donors filled the food bank with toys for children in 2024
Executive director Karen Bowman said the food bank fundraises only once a year, before Christmas, and this year she’s anticipating an increase in the number of people requesting a Christmas hamper.
“Last year we distributed 230 hampers at Christmas and we had 188 children who were the recipients of our [free] toy-shopping day. That was a lot of kids. Going back to 2023, we made 207 hampers and had 158 children,” said Bowman. “This year we’re planning for 250 hampers because food prices are going up. Comparing September 2024 and September 2025, we’ve [the board] seen a general increase of 47 per cent hamper use. The growth has been very significant, and we may need more hampers than 250 this year.”
Consumers are being hit hard by food inflation at the grocery store for items including fresh vegetables and meat as pressures such as trade tensions and volatile weather (affecting crop yields) affect prices.
Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index for September 2025 says food prices continued to rise with a 4 per cent year-over-year increase in price that month for food purchased from stores. That follows a 3.5 per cent increase in food prices in August. September 2025 marked the “largest year-over-year increase in grocery prices” since April 2024.
Bowman said that because of the increased numbers of people turning to the food bank for help, EBN has had to purchase food again this year for its regular hampers. That’s been in addition to the donations it receives from generous individuals and organizations in the community.
“We’ve had to purchase food a lot more this year than last year; we’re up about 15 per cent in food purchases. We’re serving more people and the cost of food is still high – even though it’s plateaued a little bit,” she said.
The food bank purchases food for its Christmas hampers rather than tap its existing stock, which goes towards clients’ monthly hampers. The food bank wants to ensure everyone gets the same items in their hampers and that they do “a little extra for our neighbours who want to have a special time” at Christmas.
The average cost of a hamper is $200, she said. If EBN distributes 250 hampers this year, it will cost the food bank about $50,000.
Bowman said the communities EBN supports – Gimli, Winnipeg Beach, Dunnottar and Fraserwood – have always stepped up to support the food bank, whether through monetary donations during its Christmas hamper drive or at other time during the year with a tin for the bin. The Gimli Car Show, Red Apple and Gimli Ford were among many supporters that “really got us through this summer … and helped keep our shelves full.”
Bowman said she’d normally mail out flyers asking the community to consider making a monetary donation to the food bank to support a Christmas hamper, but this year she decided to change things up by using the media to get the word out.
In addition to monetary donations, people who want to support EBN’s free toy-shopping day can drop off a new, unwrapped toy at EBN or deposit it in a toy collection box that will be set up in various businesses in the community.
“Our toys program is for newborns to 17 years of age. We’re asking for donations of new, unwrapped toys. We set out all the toys into age categories in our warehouse, and parents or guardians can come in at their assigned time and choose toys for their kids,” said Bowman. “It’s our favourite day of the year because it’s like Santa’s workshop in here. We put on music and our staff and volunteers are dressed up in Christmas hats. In addition to toys, people will get a stocking stuffer, wrapping paper and a gift bag and we have handmade clothing such as mitts, toques scarves, all brand new.”
EBN will purchase toys if it doesn’t have enough toys for a particular age group, she said. They’re expecting the 11-15-year-old age group to be the largest group this year.
“Whatever age group donors want to buy for is fine. We will fill in the gaps. Older teens sometimes get left out because they’re hard to buy for. But gift cards or gaming gift cards or hoodies are fine,” she said. “We like a good cross-section of gifts such as Lego, books, puzzles, diaries or personal health care items.”
There are a number of upcoming events in Gimli that will help support EBN’s Christmas hamper and toy drive.
Adam T. Elvis will be performing at his annual EBN toy-drive event that’s tentatively scheduled for the end of November, said Bowman. He typically holds the concert at EBN but this year it will be held in a different venue (date and place to be announced).
Giving Tuesday is scheduled for Dec. 2. The international day encourages people to make a donation to a food bank or other charity of their choice as a response to the consumerism of Black Friday.
And Fill a Sleigh Day at the Gimli Red Apple store on Centre Street is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6. The event will include a barbecue, pictures with Santa (to be confirmed) and some “special guests” stopping by. People can either bring a toy to the event or buy a toy at the store or donate money.
People who need a Christmas hamper this year, toy-shopping time (if they have children) and options for hamper pick-up or delivery must pre-register with EBN so that the food bank can start to coordinate the hampers and delivery or pick-up times.
EBN is scheduled to deliver hampers on Tuesday, Dec. 9. People who are able to pick up their hampers at EBN can do so on Dec. 11. People who register to toy shop for their kids can do so on Dec. 13.
To register for a Christmas hamper, pick-up or delivery options and toy-shopping, call EBN at (204) 642-9736 and press 3 for Miles in the food bank.
People who wish to make a monetary donation to EBN for its 2025 hamper program, can drop by EBN in person (cheque, cash, credit card accepted). They will be asked to fill out a donation form and will receive a receipt.
People who prefer online can visit Canada Helps.org and search for Evergreen Basic Needs, which is registered on the site. Or they can visit EBN’s website (evergreenbasicneeds.com) and find a link to Canada Helps.org.
People can also mail in a cheque to EBN. Canada Post is on rotating strikes so there could possibly be a delay.
For more information about EBN’s Christmas fundraising drive, please call Karen Bowman at (204) 642-9736. The food bank is located at 71 Fourth Ave. in Gimli.
