The Secret Santa Project PG has been in existence for more than a decade and was founded by Lori Trupp. As she once again began taking applications more than a year ago for those who needed a little help during the holidays, she died suddenly, leaving the program scrambling.
Patrick Telford, who is one of the administrators of the Free Family Food Share program on Facebook, decided to take up the cause himself and promised to create 15 hampers to honour Trupp’s memory. Jumping on board to help
This year, demand has snowballed into 92 requests and counting by those in need of a little holiday boost.
There are many sponsors who have answered the call and the Secret Santa Project team are very grateful but there’s an extra push needed to close the cap completely so all requests are filled.
There are single people, small families, medium and large families in need of sponsorship.
“We are definitely looking for donations and it’s just every day things people don’t think about - sugar, flour, cooking oil and even things people can’t eat necessarily like toilet paper, paper towels, feminine products, diapers or laundry soap, dish soap, hand soap and those things can be tough to buy because you can’t eat them but you need them,” Koops explained.
“There are five expectant mothers on our list and numerous families with babies under a year old - and diapers are expensive.”
The Secret Santa team is so grateful for the community support.
“People are always thanking us but we’re just the go-between,” Koops said. “We so appreciate the help from the people of Prince George - we could maybe do a few between us - but the community always comes through and is amazing and so we can now do almost 100 hampers for those in need.”
The Secret Santa Project PG also has their annual Christmas Gift Mug fundraiser where all proceeds go directly to purchasing gifts for the hamper recipients. The mugs are $15 and include two $1 scratch and win tickets, two packets of hot chocolate, two candy canes and assorted candy and a festive pencil. The gift mugs are available at Koops Bike Shop during business hours. Cash only please.
To donate items to be used in creating the hampers, drop off is at Koops Bike Shop, Buskers Rock Merch and Venue or the photo counter at London Drugs.
Suggestions include non-perishable food items, toiletries, household paper products, laundry soap, new blankets or sheet sets, gloves, mitts, toques, socks, slippers and toys.
If an individual, a group of friends or a business can sponsor a family message the Secret Santa Project PG on Facebook and visit the page for more information about the project and its goals.
