Many volunteers, including Eagle Hills Multiple 4-H Club volunteers, right, were busy preparing the many Christmas Hampers that went out. (Submitted photos/Erin Katerynych)

By Angela Brown

Battlefords Empty Stocking Fund

Christmas Hampers program in Battlefords sees record year

Dec 22, 2023 | 4:00 PM

The Battlefords Empty Stocking Fund is seeing a high number of Christmas hampers and toys being given to families in the Battlefords this holiday season.

Hampers were distributed Dec. 18th to 22nd.

“We handed out over 400 Christmas hampers,” executive director Erin Katerynych said. “We helped 1,180 people, 48 per cent of those were children.”

In comparison, last year about 900 people participated in the hamper program.

On Friday 20 families came through the doors, while Thursday and Wednesday each saw 40 families a day.

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“The first two days was definitely the most,” Katerynych said.

She thanks all the volunteers who helped make the big workload of packing and distributing the Christmas Hampers easier.

“We couldn’t have pulled this off [without their assistance],” Katerynych said. “The Eagles Hills 4-H Club, they came and matched all the toys for us.”

As well, the Battlefords District Food and Resource Centre collected almost 4,000 pounds of food from Loraas Environmental alone.

Katerynych said the Empty Stocking Fund collected around 20,000 pounds of food for the campaign in total.

Many children also received toys that were donated.

“We had gifts for all the children that were registered, for ages 17 and under,” Katerynych said.

Katerynych noticed an uptick in the number of hampers going out this Christmas season.

“There were about 25 more families than the previous year [receiving hampers,] she said.

The Battlefords District Food and Resource Centre also provided free cab rides home for families coming in to receive a hamper, if they didn’t already have a ride.

The centre is now closed until Jan. 2.

Katerynych mentioned she heard many touching stories from families grateful to receive hampers and toys.

“I’ve heard a lot of stories about how hard it has been this year, just trying to pay rent, buy food, and the toys on top of that,” she said. “A lot of people are struggling this year. So, we’re just happy that we are able to share the joy.”

Katerynych added the community was instrumental in stepping up to help with the Christmas Hamper project again this year.

“I just want to say how great the community is, with all the donations and the help they provide to the Food Bank. We wouldn’t be able to do this without their help,” she said.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @battlefordsnow