Call for help answered for Indigenous Christmas hamper program

An Indigenous organization worried they wouldn’t have enough turkeys or toys for their hamper program. CTV’s Spencer Turcotte has an update.

A local organization is grateful for a surge of support from the community, but there is still more to do to ensure everyone has a happy holiday.

A recent call for more Christmas donations was made by local Indigenous non-profit The Healing of the Seven Generations.

“We’ve found the last couple of years it’s been very hard for us to get funding and grants for each of the programs we have,” said Serena Wesley, manager for the Dehsahsodre Program and bail supervisor for The Healing of the Seven Generations.

It put them in a tough spot when it comes to their annual Christmas Hamper program for First Nation, Inuit and Métis Peoples so they called on the community for help.

“[We] only had 70 turkeys to provide the community with our Christmas Hampers,” a post on social media read in part. “To date, we have had close to 100 families register.”

That equates to around 200 children.

“It was very hard for us to make that decision when we put the post out that we would have to start turning people away,” said Wesley.

Following the post, people stepped up in a big way, quickly making up the gap in turkeys needed, which will all start being delivered next week.

“We’ll get [the fridge] emptied out as much as we can,” said Wesley.

Part of the Christmas Hamper program includes toys and other items, which are still needed.

“We do need toys for the children,” said Wesley. “We’re still looking for donations for hats and toques and socks and hygiene for men.”

Hygiene products for women are being accepted too.

“It’s very heartwarming this time of year when so many families are suffering. The cost of everything has gone up,” she said.

Donations can be made through their website via e-transfer or in-person at their office – 300 Frederick St., Kitchener.