Help make this Christmas a great one!

By David F. Rooney

As Christmas looms every closer, the Community Connections Food Bank hopes Revelstokians will step up and help them make this special season a happy one for needy families.

Food Bank Manager Patti Larson said one way to help out is to donate non-perishable foods, toiletry, pyjamas, socks, infant formula, pet food for cats and dogs, personal grooming items, and new or very gently used children’s toys to the Christmas Hamper Depot.

The Depot in the basement of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 46 building will be open Mondays through Saturdays, December 3-22, from 10 am until 3 pm.

“Cash works pretty well, too,” she said. “Money can be dropped off at the Christmas Hamper Depot or at Community Connections (at 314 Second Street East).

“Everyone deserves a present at Christmas and because so many of our people are alone what they receive from us may be the only present they’ll receive,” Larson said.

And a lot of people do rely on the Food Bank. In October, the last month for which figures are available, 177 adults and 50 children used it to help feed themselves.

There are also a number of important food- and fund-raising events being held in December to support the Food Bank.

This Saturday, December 1, Denny’s Restaurant is hosting a 99-cent Grand Slam Breakfast from 6 am until 2 pm. All proceeds from this event will go the Food Bank.

RONA/Glacier Building Supplies will be selling Christmas trees at its Garden Centre in the Industrial Park. The tree are coming in by November 30.

“They are local cultured Douglas fir trees for sale in our Garden Center,” aid Steve Smith of the VicVanIsle Group. “Bring in a food bank item or make a donation and we will knock $2 off each tree purchased.”

In addition, RONA is inviting everyone to its first Contractors’ Appreciation Night on December 6 from 4-7 pm.

“RONA will have draws, in-store specials, a tool sale, and much more. Get your Christmas shopping done early and join us for the Contractors’ Appreciation Night on December 6,” Smith said.

And there’s more!

On Friday, December 14, the annual CPR Holiday Train will roll into the train yard along Victoria Road at about 6 pm. There will be hotdogs, coffee, hot chololate for everyone and plenty of entertainment. This year’s entertainers include Doc Walker, Miss Emily and the Brothers Dube.

People attending this event are encouraged to bring a donation of food, gift items or cash.

On Saturday, December 15, the Somewon Collective is holding a season kickoff they’re calling a Whiteout Party at the Big Eddy Pub. $10 will get you through the door and the music will be provided by DJ Wesside, Ray Ray, Marty Beats and some as-yet-unrevealed “special guests.” All proceeds from this blow out will go the food bank.

And there’s another way to “donate” to the Food Bank. Kraft Foods is willing to donate $100,000 to food banks in five different regions. $20,000 of that is going to food banks in BC.

Kraft is willing to give 50 cents to our local food bank in your name every time you click on their website. All you have to do is give them your name and e-mail address and locate the place where we live by giving them your postal code. A map will pop up when you do that. Click on the green dot for Revelstoke and you’ll be shifted to another page where you’ll be asked if your want to sign up for e-mail from Kraft Foods, Food Banks Canada or the Community Connections Food Bank. That may sound like an a-HA! moment, but it’s not. There’s no obligation to sign up so you’re don’t  have to wind up on a mailing list somewhere. You’ll finish up this simple process by using your computer cursor to move images of non-perishable food items into a box. Do that and you’re done… for the day.

Christmas is coming and these are just a few of the ways you can help out