’Tis the season for giving to those in need, which makes it especially heartwarming when they’re in a giving mood, too.
As CEO of Share Family and Community Services, Claire MacLean has witnessed many a kind act from the Tri-Cities community at this time of year toward the organization’s Christmas toy, food hamper, gift wrapping and caring neighbour seasonal programs.
She also frequently sees generosity coming from regular food bank users.
“You see them pull things out of their hamper and give them to someone else at the food bank they think needs it more than them,” MacLean told The Tri-City News. “I’m consistently moved by the generosity of people and how much, if you give them a chance, people really do want to look out for each other. It’s quite remarkable.”
It’s the type of spirit Share hopes to tap into for help this holiday season. In addition to collecting donations to the programs and the organization, Share raises money with its Christmas gift wrapping booth at Coquitlam Centre that runs Dec. 2 to 24.
“Christmas is a really important time for us. The funds we raise going to the food bank during Christmas really sustain that program all the way through into the summer, so it’s critical for us.
"It allows us to deliver food to children, and seniors and adults and all the folks we serve essentially for the next eight months or more,” MacLean said. “It’s a big time when the community all comes together.”
The Christmas Toy program “really resonates with people,” said MacLean, “because we’ve all had our own experiences of the holidays when we were children.
“Those of us who are parents, we really know how much we want to make it a special time for kids. So people really acutely feel and empathize with families who aren’t able to do that for their children and then they want to help support them.”
Share’s website (sharesociety.ca) has an online store to purchase toys for Christmas or contribute to the food hampers. MacLean called it “a really terrific way” to support Share because it allows the organization to provide healthy, nutritious food to families.
“We can make sure we’re buying fresh foods that folks can’t really donate. We can also make sure our buying power is going further,” she said.
That last sentiment also applies to regular donations because Share can get more bang for the donated buck by getting up to triple the return.
“We appreciate people that donate the traditional non-perishable goods, and we certainly make use of that and make sure we distribute it, but it is a lot more resources that have to be put into processing those donations, storing them, sorting them and then redistributing them. Whereas when we get cash donations, we are able to turn that around a lot quicker. We can target what we purchase, we can purchase more of it,” she said.
Groups are also needed to help pack the food hampers just before Christmas. Share distributed 1,100 of them last year.
“To turn around that amount of product in a week takes a huge effort. We’ve had local sports teams doing it for years for us. They get a little competitive with each other to see how many hampers they can pack in a period of time which we encourage,” says MacLean with a little laugh.
HELPING THE HELPERS
There are many ways to help out Share Family and Community Services at Christmas.
TO VOLUNTEER:
• Online registration to work at the gift wrap station at Coquitlam Centre between Dec. 2 and 24, including providing times you are available, can be done at sharesociety.ca. Click on the red Christmas button in the top right corner.
TO DONATE:
• Online donations can be made at sharesociety.ca. Click on the purple Donate button.
CARING NEIGHBOUR
• There are many guidelines, including the minimum gift being a food hamper to a family; they can be found at sharesociety.ca. Click on the red Christmas button in the top right, and then scroll down to the Caring Neighbour sponsorship application bar.
FOOD DRIVES
Share will be the beneficiary of two upcoming food drives.
• Radio station CFOX will hold one for all food banks in the region at Coquitlam Centre Dec. 6 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• On Dec. 7 and 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Thrifty Foods in Port Moody’s Suter Brook Village will hold a food drive.
TO RECEIVE:
• Families can register to receive toys at: Port Moody Pacific Grace Church, 2622 St. Johns St., on Wednesdays and Fridays, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., until Dec. 6; Trinity United Church, 2211 Prairie Ave., in Port Coquitlam, Wednesdays and Fridays from noon to 2 p.m. until Nov. 27; and Hillside Community Church, 1393 Austin Ave., Coquitlam, on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• The Christmas food hampers are part of Share’s regular program so food bank clients don’t need to register to get one.
• Families can register for the Caring Neighbour Program based on need and are matched with groups providing support. Call 604-931-2451 or email [email protected].
