WINNIPEG — The Christmas Cheer Board is ramping up efforts to bring in toy and cash donations with only one month to go until Christmas.
Executive director Kai Madsen spoke at a media launch event Tuesday at the Canada Safeway store on Ness Avenue, saying donations are slower than in previous years.
“We need to really push this year,” Madsen said. “Things are a little slower than I’m accustomed to, and I’m getting a little concerned, so we need to make sure that we encourage people to fill the (hamper) bags.”
Madsen says about 18,000 hampers will be filled this year, which help families who otherwise wouldn’t have food or gifts to enjoy during the holiday season. A turkey and presents are added to the hamper before it’s delivered to a household in need.
Donations can be dropped off at any Winnipeg Safeway location or at a number of drop-off sites listed on the Cheer Board’s website.
Prior to this morning’s launch, a media hamper-filling competition was held. Radio station FAB 94.3 placed first as the team to fill the hamper with the most-requested items in the shortest amount of time.
It’s the 95th year the Cheer Board has been operating and has a goal of $900,000 to be raised in 2014.
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