Sundre's Santa's Anonymous program will be accepting donations as of Nov. 1, and River Valley School students will be collecting donations while out trick-or-treating on Friday.
Students will be collecting non-perishable food items as part of the annual We Scare Hunger campaign on Halloween evening.
But Santa's Anonymous officials will also be accepting things like toys, cookies, chocolates, socks, gloves, hats and scarves, right up until the week before Christmas.
Sarah Kennedy is taking on the paid position of the program coordinator this year. She has lived in Sundre for a year and says she would like to get to know people in the community.
“I thought it's a good opportunity to get to meet people in this town and all the businesses,” said Kennedy.
There are a few changes to the program this year, including a Secret Santa addition. This is to replace the “adopt a family” feature because officials felt it wasn't fair for everyone, she said.
“So everybody who is referred to us, I'm going to ask them if there's something that would really make their Christmas,” said Kennedy.
“So if it's warm clothes, if it's tickets to the cinema, or if it's a toy for a child, Lego, or a doll for a little girl – we'll put that onto a Christmas list and people can approach us to be a Secret Santa.”
She is asking for people to refer families to the program from Nov. 1 to Dec. 12. People can also refer themselves.
“So we're looking for church groups, organizations to make referrals of families that they feel are really in need,” she said, adding that because it is an anonymous program, there is no list of referrals kept on file.
She is also looking for volunteers to help sort donations at Santa's Workshop – which has moved to the old town hall this year – as well as people to help with administration and loading and unloading donations.
Bins will be located at Bargain Browzer, IGA, Pharmasave, Pharmachoice, V&S Options, Home Hardware, Mountain View Credit Union, Sundre Municipal Library and Greenwood Neighbourhood Place. Monetary donations will also be accepted at IGA and GNP.
Kennedy is planning a 50/50 fundraiser for the program and the annual charity checkstop is planned for December.
She believes it is an important program to have in Sundre and says it spreads Christmas joy.
“I think there's a lot of people in this community that do truly need help – specifically at Christmas because Christmas is that special time of the year,” she said.
She has sat on several committees throughout her life and has been involved in charitable organizations. Since moving to Sundre, she has volunteered for numerous events, and believes it is a giving community.
“This community is a very giving community. I've seen that time and time again, you know, people put out requests for help and they get it,” she said.
“I love the whole idea of Christmas and Christmas spirit. And I want to make sure that everybody gets a special Christmas.”
She says she is most looking forward to seeing the program benefit the community, and seeing people come together to help one another.
“I'd like to see the people when they pick up their hamper, just their faces and know that we've made a difference to make people's Christmases a little bit better,” she said.
“Because everybody deserves that special Christmas. Everybody wants that bit of magic at Christmas.”
For more information, to refer someone to the program, or to volunteer, Kennedy can be reached at 403-638-8190 or via email [email protected].
