Members of Airdrie RCMP and Municipal Enforcement will be assisting the Airdrie Lioness Club’s Christmas hamper program in a new way this year.
According to a press release from the detachment, RCMP officers and members of Municipal Enforcement will be at three separate locations in Airdrie on Dec. 5 to solicit gift card donations for the program. The officers will be in the parking lots of the Walmart, Real Canadian Superstore and Safeway from 1 to 3 p.m.
“A lot of people are really hurting this Christmas, with regards to finances,” said Cpl. Gina Slaney, media relations officer with Airdrie RCMP. “I know Airdrie Lioness has many new families that have applied for a Christmas hamper this year, so if anyone can help, it would be greatly appreciated.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in various challenges for the Lioness Club's hamper program, causing the annual initiative to be modified this year. In previous years, the hampers included gifts, a week’s worth of food and a gift card to purchase a turkey dinner for Christmas. The hampers would be distributed to families in need shortly before Christmas.
This year, because of the pandemic, the focus shifted from physical items to gift cards. Lisa Kennedy, social media coordinator with ALC, said the club is specifically seeking gift cards for grocery stores, toy stores, hardware stores, spas, salons, movie theatres or local home-based businesses, in an attempt to support the local economy and keep money in Airdrie.
“Anything that is not a physical item, but people can redeem for a product before Christmas,” she said, adding smaller value gift cards are preferable as they will be easier to assign to the hampers.
According to Slaney, RCMP and Municipal Enforcement began supporting the Lioness Club's Christmas hamper program two years ago. Prior to 2020, members of RCMP and Municipal Enforcement would organize a toy drive and take on members of Airdrie Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services in the annual Sirens Charity Hockey Game to raise awareness and funds for the program.
“Unfortunately, we can’t do that this year, as Airdrie Lioness is not able to accept toy donations,” Slaney said. “But they’re gladly accepting gift cards.”
Kennedy said the annual Christmas hamper program has experienced increased demand this year, likely due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, the club distributed 355 hampers as part of the annual program.
“I know there are a lot of new families that haven’t used the program before who have reached out to us,” she said.
However, the number of families or businesses that have sponsored hampers is much lower than in past years, Kennedy said, meaning the Lioness Club has had to fill in the gaps to make sure the requisite hampers are still supplied.
“We are doing the best we can, but we are still in need of gift cards or online donations,” she said. “Christmas is about hope, something we all need right now. We are hoping that you can spread some hope with your generosity.”
–With files from Ben Sherick
Scott Strasser, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @scottstrasser19
