Annual Easter dinner brings people together
The Medicine Hat Santa Claus Fund held its ninth annual Easter dinner Saturday, feeding approximately 200 Hatters going through a tough time said the fund’s executive director Deanna Doerksen.
The event was held at the Freemason’s hall, serving a hot turkey dinner and dessert to anyone family that felt it needed help during the holiday weekend. Doerksen said more people are using the fund’s services due to tough economic times.
“There is absolutely a need in the community right now,” she said. “There is an increased need for families at Christmas time and throughout the year, at the Santa Claus Fund we want to help families out with that need when we can.”
While the Santa Claus Fund is mostly known for assisting families around Christmas, Doerksen said all holiday seasons can be difficult for struggling families.
“Holidays can be very hard for families going through a tough time,” she said. “Events like this are a great way for people to come together and celebrate the holidays as a family without the stress.”
Stan Sakamoto was onhand Saturday representing Shooting Star Events, and he said supporting events like this is important to him.
“Seeing so many families out here today shows how much of a need is in the community,” he said. “It’s just nice to see all the children having some fun and the families getting that dinner they deserve during the holidays.”
The event was sponsored by Shooting Star Events, the Medicine Hat and District Food Bank and the Medicine Hat Freemasons. Santa Claus Fund president Theresa Hardiker says the event only happened because of a team effort.
“We wouldn’t be able to do events like these without support from various groups,” she said.
The fund’s next big event is the annual Toy Run happening later in the year.