Editor’s Note:
In the Spirit of Giving The Revelstoke Current is pleased to present photos of the people and organizations that are tangibly helping to make this a truly happy Christmas for those who are less fortunate or in need of assistance. We honour their efforts to make our community one that really cares for everyone. Merry Christmas!
Community Connections Food Bank Coordinator Patti Larson (center) poses with some of the volunteers who worked tirelessly to ensure that this year’s Christmas Hamper depot was a successful one — and it was. About 185 hampers were distributed to needy individuals, children and families. Hampers contained turkeys or hams, toys, warm articles of clothing, basic foodstuffs and personal grooming items. Items that are not distributed this year, like of the goods on the table in front of them, will be used next year. David F. Rooney photo
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Red Apple Manager Trevor English was truly an emissary from Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole when he presented Patti Larson with $1,400 worth of new toys for the Christmas Hamper Program. “No child should go without a present at Christmas,” he said. The Christmas Hamper Program wraps up on Monday, December 23, so be sure and hurry down if you have a donation you’d like to make. David F. Rooney photo ***
Community Connection Food Bank Coordinator Patti Larson had another good reason to go to the Christmas Hamper Deport on Friday, December 20. With Christmas looming on the horizon, Crime Stoppers President Roberta Ciolli (right) dropped by with a cheque for $300 and 100 lbs of food raised during the group’s very successful No Host Bazaar. ***
Staff Sgt. Kurt Grabinsky (left) gets an introduction into local generosity as Home Hardware Manager Sheryl Hermansen offers him and Const. Gary McLaughlin a cheque for $250 raised by store employees selling smokies. The money will go towards the Trees for Tots charit that s heavily supported by the RCMP. David F. Rooney photo ***
It takes a very rare and very special occasion for Patti Larson to be struck genuinely speechless. But that’s what happened when the CPR’s mark Jackson handed here this over-sized cheque for $13,000 — more than three times the $4,000 cheque that the Community Connections Food Bank normally receives from the Holiday Train. “I couldn’t believe it,” she said later. “I just didn’t know what to say.” After a couple of false starts, though, Patti managed some very profuse thank yous. David F. Rooney photo The contents of these five baskets represent the commitment, love and hard work of four local women who have spent hundreds of hours knitting 100 children’s slippers, mittens, gloves, hats and scarves. The money to purchase all of that yarn was collected in piggy banks that Carol Sakamoto (center right with Food Bank Coordinator Patti Larsom) placed at local stores. This annual effort by local people truly embodies the Spirit of Giving. These items will be distributed through the Community Connections Food Bank’s Christmas Hamper program. David F. Rooney photo The Revelstoke Theatre Company’s Anita Hallewas was out spreading Christmas cheer one smile at a time with tickets for the company’s Dear Santa production to Community Connections’ Food Bank Coordinator Patti Larson (top) and the Child Care Society’s Tracy Spannier. Photos courtesy of Zophie Humphreys Community Connections Food Bank Coordinator Patti Larson was all smiles on Wednesday and well she should have been. Greg Byman and Kathy Burke of the Revelstoke Snowmobile Club dropped by with a cheque for $2,000 raised at the club’s recent fund-raising banquet at the Hillcrest Hotel, which was attended by a couple of hundred members. And that’s not all. The club also dropped off another $155 in donations and 150 pounds of food. That’s an excellent start to Christmas season! David F. Rooney photo