Sundre's Santa's Anonymous is up and running for another season.
Kim Free is taking on the paid position of the program coordinator this year and is looking forward to it.
“People are so generous and there is such a need in the community at the same time, so it's awesome that organizations like Santa's Anonymous fill that need,” said Free.
Santa's Anonymous volunteers collect donations of food, gifts and clothing items for families in the Sundre area from October until the week before Christmas.
“It provides a place for volunteers to volunteer, for people to donate to people in need, and then we bring all of the people together. The people who need are connected to the people who want to give.”
There will be a 4-H food drive on Nov. 24 and a charity checkstop held in December for the program. People are also invited to drop off donations at Sobeys and V&S options.
“It's about bringing joy and relieving some of the stress of the holiday season for families,” she said.
“Families that are in need can go to the Mountain View Food Bank throughout the year. But Christmas is a time for families to be together and to not worry about the stress of finances and whatever. And so I think it's really awesome that a family could receive a huge overflowing hamper full of food and gifts and clothing that can get them through Christmas.”
When she was a teenager she enjoyed volunteering for the Mountain View Food Bank.
“It was mind-blowing to see the stacks of food on the shelves and the number of people that would come through the door in need of that food. It was touching,” she said.
She is looking forward to the season and working with the many volunteers. She did admit that the job can be overwhelming, but she knows the volunteers will help her along the way.
During the week of December 16-20, volunteers will put together the hampers and then they will be delivered.
“I'm looking forward to that last week before Christmas to see it all come to flourish and to see those hampers all packed up and overflowing with gifts and goodies and food,” she said.
She is taking over the job from Mary Gunderson, who has been involved in the program for numerous years.
“Mary Gunderson told me that the highlight of it for her was to deliver the hampers to the families and sometimes they would cry and hug and break down in tears and just be so grateful.”
There were numerous volunteers signing up for the program on Friday at “Santa's Workshop”, located on Centre Street, which is the place where all donations are taken to and sorted.
