By David F. Rooney
It’s that time of year again: the run up to Christmas and the New Year. If we haven’t already done it we’ll soon start scurrying around in search of the perfect Christmas gifts for our loved ones and planning for special meals to celebrate these happy holidays.
But this can be a bleak season, too. There are plenty of local families that don’t have the wherewithal to enjoy the season. They’re not strangers, tourists or skiers from abroad: they are our neighbours, friends and family. Surely, they deserve a little Christmas cheer, too.
“Christmas is a hugely stressful time of year for people,” says Patti Larson, Community Connections’ manager of outreach services. “There’s the pressure of not having anything special to eat and the prospect for children that there will be nothing in their stocking or under the tree.”
Lest you think hunger and poverty are not problems in Revelstoke consider the fact that 180 local adults and 64 children rely on the Community Connections Food Bank. (Click here to read about Food Bank myths and facts)
You can help ensure that these folks will have a Christmas worth remembering by contributing to the Community Connections Christmas Hamper Program.
This program provides Food Bank clients with a special food hamper for the Christmas holidays as well as toys for children. Malicious rumours that the Food Bank feeds skiers and visitors are absolutely false and last year contributed to a decline in donations to the Food Bank.
The program begins December 1 and runs until December 23 at the Food Bank in the basement of the Royal Canadian Legion. It will be open Monday to Saturday from 10 am until 3 pm.
Your donation of food and/or toys will be gratefully received and no doubt will help someone enjoy the season.
This year will also see the return of the Angel Tree at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Canada. Donors can a child of a certain age and make a financial contribution towards the purchase of a Christmas gift for that child.
And, on December 14, the traditional CP Rail Holiday Train will roll into the rail yard at 2:45. Entertainment will be provided by Valdy and Tracey Brown.
Revelstoke Fire and Rescue Service firefighters will once again be serving hot dogs and hot chocolate in exchange for a donation to the Food Bank.
