For many years the Community Resources Society (CRS) has been providing Christmas hampers to households throughout the region, ensuring that the holiday season is a little bit more cheerful for many people.
Now — thanks to a surplus of funds built up over the past few years — the society will be making it "Christmas in July" for qualifying single adults on a pension and families with children under the age of 18 living in the area from Spences Bridge to Clinton. Recipients will receive two gift cards of their choice from Safety Mart, Fields, or Desert Hills Ranch; they can also opt to receive a gas card.
"It's the first time we've done this, and may be the only time," explains CRS chair Esther Lang, noting that the society has saved up the money in part by being fiscally responsible. "It's a result of us having extra money built up over the last five years: a little bit here, a little bit there. We get good deals from suppliers, and we're able to buy in bulk."
Last year the society provided 161 Christmas hampers to single adults, couples, and families throughout the region, filled with all the fixings for a Christmas dinner plus other food items. Lang says that the volunteers who pack the boxes are careful about what they put in.
"We can't fill them too full. People will sometimes say 'You can put more in,' but that makes them too heavy, and who can carry them to the third floor?"
Lang says that this year CRS decided to take the money they've saved up and offer the Christmas in July program. "It might be the only [time we do it]; I can't see it on a regular basis."
When looking at what to provide, the society decided to go with gift cards from different businesses, not just ones that provide groceries. It means that recipients can choose to purchase whatever helps them most: families with children can supplement their food income during the summer, when school lunch programs are not available, or purchase school supplies for September. Single pensioners can add a little to their food supply, and anyone who needs to travel can get some help with fuel costs. Lang also notes that the gift cards do not need to be spent all at once.
Anyone who would like to request gift cards must do so by phone, by calling between 1 and 3 p.m. on June 24, 25, or 26 only. Those who live in the Ashcroft-Cache Creek area can call Esther at (250) 453-9085, while anyone who lives in Spences Bridge or Clinton can call Vivian at (250) 457-7081. Registrants will be asked to choose which two cards they would like.
Lang says that the deadline of 3 p.m. on June 26 is a firm one. "We have to order all the cards after that and then get them into envelopes with the name on them."
Cards can only be picked up by the person who registered for them. If for some reason the person who registered cannot pick them up, the cards can only be released to someone who presents a written request signed by the registrant and containing their phone number.
Cards can be picked up as follows:
- Spences Bridge: Monday, July 15 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the former school building
- Clinton: Tuesday, July 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the food bank
- Ashcroft: Wednesday, July 17 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Elizabeth Fry Society office
- Cache Creek: Thursday, July 18 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Equality Project clubhouse
Any cards that are not picked up will become the property of the CRS Christmas Hamper committee.
"It was something we decided would be a good idea," says Lang of Christmas in July. "We decided to spread it further than just pure food, trying to cover all the bases, such as gas for travelling to Ashcroft for those out of town. The cards will be able to help a bit."
