Community Christmas campaign underway

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This article was published 29/10/2014 (3466 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With less than two months before Christmas, a Steinbach group of volunteers is gearing up for a few busy weeks as they prepare hundreds of special packages for families in the region who need a hand finding some cheer.

Community Christmas is starting up with registrations being accepted until Nov. 30. Online registration worked well last year and is going to be another key way people can add to the list of people needing some help this holiday season.

Hank Klassen of South East Helping Hands is expecting a long list of recipients this year because of a significant increase in the number of people registered for food hampers during the year.

“From spring to now, we’ve grown by 250 families,” Klassen said. “A lot of people are coming back from the west; the land of milk and honey didn’t produce. When they come back, they have absolutely nothing. Then there’ve been quite a few layoffs locally with more coming.”

Klassen has been part of this effort for many years. He recalls one example of what keeps him committed to the work.

“We went to one house where we brought two boxes of food especially for a Christmas dinner. The kids were at the box like you wouldn’t believe it, like they hadn’t eaten for weeks. Then I told them there was more coming. When we came in with the toys, you should have seen those kids, they lit up like a bright light. That’s why I’m here, that’s why I do this.”

More on Community Christmas in the Oct. 30 edition of The Carillon.