CHRISTMAS HAMPERS ADAPT TO PANDEMIC PROTOCOLS
Even though things are going to look different this holiday season, those in need still reach out for help and to make that happen several community organizations are doing what it takes to make it work. PRINCE GEORGE COUNCIL OF SENIORS
The Prince George Council of Seniors is still offering the opportunity to access Christmas hampers to those who are low income and 65+ in the community and to be eligible to apply they must be in receipt of the Guaranteed Income Supplement.
This year due to pandemic protocols set in place the council cannot accept food donations and are asking for monetary donations, including gift cards to grocery stores. Deadline for applications is Friday, Dec. 4 and deadline to donate is Dec. 15.
There is a tax receipt available for those who donate $20 or more.
People accessing the program can submit an application form found online at www.pgcos.ca and clicking on Christmas Hampers and dropping it off (wearing a mask) to the Seniors Resource Centre, 712 Victoria Street or faxing it to 250-564-9155.
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY
As the St. Vincent de Paul Society continues to feed those in need three meals a day, 365 days a year, they are once again offering their annual Christmas hampers to families in need who have children 19 years and younger living at home.
This year applications are taken until Dec. 4 by phone instead of in person to keep everyone safe. To access the correct phone number to use on which day of the week visit www.ssvdppg.com.
To keep everyone as safe as possible all hampers will be delivered on Dec. 21. There will be no opportunity to pick up the hampers. Volunteers are needed to help with the process and Prince George residents are encouraged to visit the website to get information. The hampers will be put together at St. Mary’s auditorium on Dec. 19 and 20 where there’s space for the hampers and enough room for people to social distance while volunteering.
In response to pandemic orders to restrict contact the drop-in centre has had to close its doors to sit-down meals and only provide a take out meal service where the connections with those in need are lost.
“It was so hard to do that, especially at Thanksgiving, because our facility doesn’t allow us to do that for the numbers we’re serving,” Bernie Goold, St. Vincent de Paul Society’s executive director, said. “It would only allow us to serve 25 people at a time.”
St. Vincent’s drop in centre serves as many as 150 people during a meal service and to offer sit down meals and then push people out the door so the next round of 25 could enter after sanitization just wouldn’t work, she added.
SALVATION ARMY
The Salvation Army promise of ‘giving hope today’ seems to be of more importance this year, Major Neil Wilkinson of the local branch of the Salvation Army, said.
The Kettle Campaign has been reduced to stay within the pandemic guidelines. There are only six of a previous 12 locations where safety protocols can be accommodated in businesses in Prince George.
Another conundrum is that many of the volunteers who used to help out with the campaign are older, who are most susceptible to COVID-19 and now the locations are mostly outdoors in the harsh winter weather, which is not ideal, to say the least, Wilkinson said.
The Salvation Army is still in need of volunteers and are only asking for an hourlong commitment to the cause. The Kettle Campaign is the Salvation Army’s biggest fundraiser with the goal of raising $250,000, which will keep the Food Bank open to those in need year round.
People who wish to pledge money to the Kettle Campaign can do so online now through the #ChristmasChallenge where they are encouraging others in the community to meet or beat their pledge at sapg.ca.
The other challenge for the Salvation Army is the non-profit is not able to do the high volume of Christmas hampers they usually do so they’ve changed direction.
“This year we’re only doing vouchers, which are redeemable at local businesses,” Wilkinson said.