N2N gearing up for Christmas program

It’s not even mid-November, but they’re already talking about Christmas at Neighbour to Neighbour Centre. Registration for the annual Christmas program at the Athens Street centre began Oct. 2.

Krista D’Aoust, the centre’s director of family services, said they are on track to help nearly 1,800 families this year, which would be a record for the program.

“To date, we have over 900 families that have already registered,” she said. Last year, the program provided toys and food for 1,763 families — the most ever heading into the coming holiday season.

D’Aoust said the Christmas program provides families with about two weeks of food — including meat, eggs, milk and fresh produce — plus a grocery store gift card and toys for children.

While the deadline for registering is Nov. 30, D’Aoust said the centre will endeavour to fill late requests through December.

“Our aim is to not ever have to turn people away,” she said. “We’ll do our best to serve them based on the supply that we have.”

Registered families will begin picking the food up Dec. 4. The final pickup day is Dec. 22.

D’Aoust noted demand for the Christmas program shows no signs of easing.

“It feels like the demand is slightly higher this year than in previous years,” she said.