Volunteer staff with this year’s Christmas Cheer campaign is already beginning to pack up gift baskets for families in Sault Ste. Marie.
And that has convener Diane Marshall hoping the city’s first snowfall will remind the public to bring their donations to the former Walmart location at the Station Mall as the Dec. 15 distribution date for the Christmas Cheer baskets fast approaches.
Marshall is encouraging people to get their donations in early, preferably this week or during the campaign's donation blitz this Saturday.
“It’s going quite well,” said Marshall, speaking with SooToday Monday. “This snow will help us, it will help get people thinking more about Christmas - and then when they do that, they think of Christmas Cheer.”
New toys, monetary donations and gift cards are at the top of the wish list for this year’s campaign.
Although Christmas Cheer hasn’t been taking donations of used toys due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Marshall says that some used items, like skates will be accepted if they’re in excellent condition.
“We take some dolls and we do used puzzles, and of course we really want to see the used books, because quite often the books have only been read a few times, and most of them that we receive are in pristine condition,” she said.
The campaign also sees a number of knitted toques, mittens and scarves donated each year. “We have a number of people that knit every year for us, and they knit throughout the year - like the seniors at the drop-in centre, they don’t stop during the summer, they continue to knit for us,” Marshall said.
Families have until Dec. 3 to apply for Christmas Cheer baskets. Last year, donors and volunteers in Sault Ste. Marie helped deliver more than 1,600 baskets to families in need.
“We have a very caring community, and people really want to see all families be able to have a happy Christmas. With some, we know it’s a challenge and so the community always rallies to see that all children, hopefully, do have a happy Christmas,” Marshall said.
The Christmas Cheer depot is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a donation blitz scheduled for Nov. 27 (this Saturday) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Christmas Cheer applications can be completed Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. by calling (705) 575-5100.