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Volunteers needed as season gears up
11/05/08
BY MARK WEBER
Red Deer Express
Christmastime may be a ways off just yet, but organizers behind local charitable organizations are gearing up for a busy holiday season.
The Red Deer Christmas Bureau needs volunteers to help out with distributing and picking up cash cans around the city. Volunteers are also needed for the Toy Depot.
The cash cans provide necessary donations to the Bureau for the purchase of food hampers and gifts.
The downtown route, in particular, requires individuals or a service group to distribute the cans mid-November and pick them up in the New Year.
Volunteers are also needed to help out in the Toy Depot, said Willy Bullock, Toy Depot director and volunteer coordinator for the Red Deer Christmas Bureau.
Applications for assistance (toys and food hampers) will start to be accepted Nov. 17.
Last year, 787 applications were received by the Red Deer Christmas Bureau for toys and hampers, said Bullock.
The total number of children receiving gifts last year was 889, she said, adding she expects the demand to increase this year.
Anyone interested in helping out in the above capacities is asked to call 403-347-2210.
The Red Deer Christmas Bureau, which has been helping families and children in need for 45 years, is located at Bay 10, 7429 – 49 St.
Meanwhile, a traditional Christmastime site will soon be popping up at several city businesses.
The annual Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign launches Nov. 21 at a Rebels game and runs through to Dec. 23.
At this point up to 75 volunteers are still needed to help out, said Shawna Wilnechenko, family services coordinator with The Salvation Army Red Deer Community Church and Family Services.
Flexible volunteer hours are also offered, she said.
The ‘Adopt-a-Family’ program is also in full swing. Those interested must make an appointment for an interview at the church office between now and Dec. 12.
“The program is for families and seniors who are 55 years of age and up.”
Sponsors in the community are assigned a family to help out at Christmas by purchasing food for Christmas dinner and gifts for the children.
About 135 local families benefited from the program last year. There is still a need for more sponsors to help out as well.
“We live by our donations, so the more we can put into our programming the better we can serve our clients,” said Capt. Jason Sabourin, pastor of the Red Deer church. Community programs offered through The Salvation Army receive no government funding.
That makes volunteer support even more critical, he said, referring to the kettle campaign in particular.
“What they’re doing is so vital to helping people,” he said. “Even a small amount of time given is so productive.”
For more about volunteer opportunities with The Salvation Army, call 403-346-2251.
mweber@reddeer.greatwest.ca 309-5459
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