Get your donations in early
Every year, donations to the Big-Hearts Tri-S Community Foundation are collected and used to support the Big Hearts Christmas Hamper initiative, which provides over 500 Christmas hampers to families that need a little extra help to get them through the holidays. This year, this initiative continues, and community donations are needed.
“The Big Hearts Hamper Initiative has been proud to bring our values to life right here in Selkirk and the Interlake area. The holiday season is a time for kindness, general generosity, and community. So, each December, we come together to make sure that no family goes without a meal, a few special treats, and the joy of the season,” said Wendy Meger, Board Member at the Big-Hearts Tri-S Community Foundation and General Manager of Selkirk Home Hardware.
Last year, the hamper program gave to just under 500 families in our region, and this year they are expecting that number to increase to somewhere between the 500 and 600 mark, as Meger explained, people need help now more than ever before.
“The only way we can do that is with the help of the community and the businesses,” said Meger.
There are many reasons that might make it so that a family needs a hamper this year, but that doesn’t really matter. If you or your family are in need and in our area, the Big Hearts Hamper Program tries to help.
“If they need to apply to receive a hamper, or if they know someone who could use a little extra help and want to apply for them, they just have to contact Kevin Christiansen via email at bigheartshamper@gmail.com,” said Meger.
The hamper program just needs a little bit of information about the members of your family, including your name, contact info, the number of people and their ages, so that they can make sure to pack the hamper with enough food and gifts that the family will enjoy.
The hamper program was established seven years ago by Christiansen when he realized that there was a lack of this needed service in the community.
“It’s tight all year long, but people want to partake in the holiday season. And so, especially with kids, you want to make it special for them. So, you do whatever you can, and you don’t want to sacrifice not paying your rent or bills to provide food and toys for your kids. If we can help lighten it a little bit, that’s what we want to do,” said Meger.
As part of this hamper program, residents don’t just get the fixings for a holiday meal but food to help create other meals which aim to help when other nutrition programs, specifically those run out of our schools, are on pause because school is not in session.
“We provide enough stuff for a Christmas meal, so you’ll get a chicken or a turkey, potatoes, veggies, stuffing, and gravy. Then day-to-day stuff. There’ll be cereal, there’ll be peanut butter, spaghetti, and soups. It varies year to year depending on what the donations are,” said Meger.
Each member of the family will also get a gift to help make the holidays a little brighter.
Donating to this cause is quite flexible, so that it’s easier for people to find the way that fits them best.
“Big Hearts is partnering with Selkirk Home Hardware to collect and deliver donations. You can support the hamper drive in many ways. You can donate monetary gifts, non-perishable food, new clothing, toys or gift cards. You can also, at your business, host a donation bin so businesses can serve as collection points. We provide the bins and arrange pickup. (Residents) can also, if they want to do cheques, they can make them payable to Big-Hearts Tri-S Community Foundation. And, at Home Hardware, we are also accepting cash donations at the till,” Meger said.
Financial donations can also be made at the Selkirk Army Navy & Air Force Veterans Unit 151 and the Selkirk MB Legion, Branch #42.
Financial donations are always the most versatile and helpful donations because Big Hearts can turn them into any items that they need. However, if you have an overflow of cereals, peanut butter, pancake mix, syrup, soup or anything else non-perishable, those are the types of items that really help to fill in the gaps.
“Every tin, toy, and dollar counts. So, anything anybody could give, even if it’s a small can of soup, it adds up to something extraordinary,” explained Meger.
Donations are being accepted now, and they ask that all donations come in by Dec. 9, as they intend to deliver the hampers on Dec. 12 and 13 so that the families have them in plenty of time for the holidays.
Some other ways that residents can donate are at the Dec. 5 Selkirk Steelers game, as Big Hearts volunteers will be there with a table. And a fun way to support while including your family or furry friend is to bring them to Home Hardware Selkirk on Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., as they will be hosting Santa and doing Santa photos with all proceeds going towards the hamper drive.
Meger encourages anyone with the means to help to support families in our community this holiday season.
“It’s amazing what can grow from simple acts of kindness. This program began years ago in Kevin Christiansen’s basement, believe it or not. It was a few hampers packed with care and a big heart. Now, it’s blossomed into this community-wide effort that touches hundreds of families across Selkirk and in the Interlake every Christmas. So, let’s keep the Big Hearts tradition alive,” said Meger.
