INNISFAIL – It was four years ago at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when lifelong Innisfailian Kristen Spatz had an idea to bring holiday season cheer to struggling Innisfailians.
With her husband Tyson and daughter Taytum helping, Spatz was committed to bringing a wonderful, traditional holiday meal to as many financially challenged citizens as possible.
Spatz continued that commitment into the Christmas seasons of 2021, 2022, 2023 and this holiday season as well.
She calls her idea Bringing Christmas Cheer.
And since it was introduced in 2020 it has grown exponentially ever year with 2024 about to serve at least 45 families, which adds up to as many as 200 Innisfailians that will have a full Christmas meal that includes turkey, vegetables, pumpkin pie, gravy, whipped cream, a jar of pickles, buns and cranberry juice.
“That's almost double than what we had last year,” said Spatz, a past community builder award winner, of this year’s response. “I don't ask any questions. If you need the groceries, and if you could use the groceries, we will give you the groceries. It's everything you need to make a Christmas dinner.”
Since the Christmas season of 2020 her original idea during the pandemic to just give a helping hand in the holiday season has morphed to include countless others who want to support the heartwarming initiative.
Spatz now has about 50 sponsors across the community for her program.
Each sponsor buys a meal, which is valued at about $70, that can be picked up by a needy citizen or family at Paul’s No Frills Innisfail. The meals are carefully packaged in a basket for pick-up.
This year the committee for the Innisfail Festival of Trees donated more than three dozen $25 No Frills gift cards. Others sponsored additional gift cards to ensure no one was left out.
The holiday season meals were ready for pickup on Dec. 21. But not everyone in need of a helping hand at Christmas can make it to No Frills to pick up their special holiday season meal.
Spatz had that covered.
Her husband Tyson would deliver the meals in person.
“The amount of work they put in for it every year is amazing,” said Paul Begg, the owner of Innisfail’s No Frills who is supporting Bringing Christmas Cheer for the second year in a row. “And seeing so many more people this year using the program it just shows how much more we can do to help.
“And Kristen and Taytum have done an amazing job organizing everything and like they say, ‘no questions asked,” he added.
“Anyone that needs help is helped. It's great to see the community coming together as well to help buy the meals for people who are looking for them.”
