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Food hamper program in need of more donations

More than 125 hampers are given out to residents of the Lower Similkameen before Christmas.
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Work is underway to make sure everyone in the Lower Similkameen has a wonderful Christmas.

The Lower Similkameen Community Services Society is signing those in need up for Christmas Hampers on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from now until the end of November.

Hamper orders will be filled by the Keremeos Cawston Food Bank, which is overseen by the Salvation Army in Penticton. The pickup date is Dec. 14.

“Right now we have about 40 applications,” Miriam Leslie, Corps. Officer for the Salvation Army said last week. “But we’re expecting between 150 to 175 hampers that will need to be filled.”

Leslie said the hampers are a mix of families, single people and couples.

Last year there was about 25 families that received hampers. She expects between 30 to 40 children that will need toys this year in hampers.

“The majority of the applications we receive are either singles or multiple adults in one home. Most of the people we see are between the ages of 40 to 60 but we have a few over 60 as well. There’s a lot of people on pensions that struggle to make it every month, so it’s nice to be able to get them a little extra over the holiday season,” she said.

This year, gift certificates will be given out to those that sign up for hampers so they can choose their own perishable items.

Last year everyone received a canned ham and potatoes, carrots and onions and a mix of other items. But this year they will be able to decide what kind of meat they would like and what their hamper looks like, Leslie said.

“We want them to have enough for a nice Christmas dinner whatever that looks like to them. There will still be items in the hamper but we want them to be able to choose some of the things too,” she said.

Leslie noted the Cawston Marketplace prepares at least 20 hampers each year.

“They’re just wonderful people and it’s amazing that they do this every year,” she said.

Several initiatives are planned to help the food bank and hamper program this year.

There is a fundraiser planned at the Cawston Hall this Saturday starting at 4 p.m. Tickets are $10. A live auction starts at 4 p.m. followed by supper and entertainment by Relvis.

At the LightUp parade non-perishable items and children’s toys will be collected near the Pharmasave.

Those wanting to donate money can do so by going to Valley First Credit Union. A shopping cart is also there and non-perishable food items can be dropped off there.