Committee anticipates fielding upwards of 440 applications this Christmas
The Winkler and District Christmas Cheerboard is kicking off its 2024 campaign next week.
The annual Holly Jolly Breakfast takes place at Central Station (555 Main St.) from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday Nov. 2
“We have a wonderful lineup of local musical entertainment,” shares Cheerboard president Crystal Rempel. “A wide variety of performers from schools and small groups and churches.”
As you enjoy the holiday music, you can chow down on a breakfast of pancakes, sausage, and juice or coffee, all by donation.
The funds raised that day will get the Cheerboard on its way to reaching the estimated $130,000 needed to put together care packages for Winkler area families in need.
Rempel says they anticipate receiving upwards of 440 applications for Cheerboard hampers this year. Each package includes gift cards to local grocery stores as well as gifts for any children in the household—toys for younger kids and gift cards for teenagers.
Cheerboard volunteers will gather to wrap presents and sort gift cards in early December ahead of the packages being delivered on Dec. 11.
It’s all about making the holidays a little brighter for everyone in the community, Rempel says.
“The Cheerboard is there for people who have had a bit of a struggle in the year making ends meet,” she explains. “We want to make sure that every child will have a gift to open for Christmas, and that everyone will be able to have full bellies and some solid nutrition.”
The best way the community can support this campaign is to make a financial donation, either at the breakfast next weekend, online at winklercheerboard.com, or at the till at the Co-op grocery store later in November.
Rempel says they’re also working with several schools and businesses on fundraising drives, generating some friendly competition between different classrooms or corporate departments.
“We’re trying to get people engaged in the Cheerboard and Christmas,” she says. “It brings everyone together and raises morale and gives people something to reach for, having fun giving.”
If you’d like to organize something for your group or business, reach out to the Cheerboard through the website.
Meanwhile, the online application form for hampers will be sent out to qualifying families through a variety of social service providers in the weeks ahead. Reach out to Central Station Community Centre if you feel you qualify but haven’t received a referral.
If you need help filling out the application form, a Cheerboard volunteer will be on hand at Central Station every Wednesday in November.
