The Morden Christmas Cheer Board is gearing up for what it anticipates will be another holiday season of increased need.
The cheer board last year had anticipated there would be a significant demand that would at least match the previous year’s numbers, which included just over 300 hampers that helped just over 800 people. The final tally came in at 364 hampers for a 20 per cent increase.
“We’re anticipating a large need again in our community. The need has been increasing steadily,” said board representative Allison Wiens.
“It is a challenge. We want to make sure that we are able to provide hampers for everyone who is needing one. We’re working hard at having more events this season to try to raise some more awareness and raise some more money.
“It’s our goal to bring families that need a little extra support just a little bit of extra cheer,” said Wiens, who suggested the pandemic really had an impact on the level of need. “I also think we just have a growing community in Morden … so in general, things are just more expensive to purchase, so it is harder for families.”
Applications for hampers are online at mordenchristmascheer.com. The deadline for submission is Dec. 10.
The cheer board will accept donations of non-perishable food up to Dec. 16, but if you want to contribute toys and books, they would like to have those a few weeks ahead of the hamper delivery date of Dec. 18.
“We do gift cards for the food … but we do still collect non-perishable food and divide that among the hampers, and we do still collect new unwrapped toys and new books as well,” Wiens explained.
There are a few events in the coming weeks where you can support the cheer board.
On Nov. 16, there will be a story and holiday craft event at the Morden Library at 10 a.m. Admission is $20. All ages are welcome. E-mail mordenchristmascheerpr@gmail.com by Nov. 12 if you’d like to take part.
Tim Hortons’ Holiday Smile Cookie Week runs Nov. 18-24, with partial proceeds from cookie sales going to the cheer board.
Another annual tradition back again is the Morden Thunder Christmas Cheer game where they play against a team of firefighters and police. It is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 29.
As well, the cheer board will be on hand the evening of Nov. 23 for the annual City of Morden tree lighting celebration at the civic centre.
You can also watch out for donation boxes around Morden in various businesses starting around the middle of November, and there are various businesses that also do their own fundraisers to support Christmas cheer. For example, an Oct. 30 fundraiser was done at the Hope Thrift Store and led to a contribution of over $3,200.
“Every year we are just overwhelmed by the amount of cash support and the food and the toys that we get donated,” Wiens said. “We couldn’t do without all the donations that we get.”
