This is one of Bernie Goold's favourite times of year, because she gets to see firsthand the depth of Prince George generosity.
Even if it underscores the deep level of local hardship, the giving season brings out the best in community spirit for the president of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. She said the donations of food and gifts earmarked for less fortunate families are already starting to arrive, and more is expected in the days leading up to Christmas.
"We are privileged to serve them," she said of the city's people in financial difficulty. "We are in awe to look back over the 365 days of the year and see how we could provide people this service every day, and it was all through the generosity of our Prince George people. It strikes us to the core of our being, because our city is so tremendous."
While some may think of chronic street people as the main St. Vincent de Paul audience, Goold said there were some like that but there were many others that called for relief hampers or came for meals at the Second Avenue drop-in centre.
"The trends that we notice this year are, more seniors both eating meals at our drop-in centre and making requests for hampers. And we also see a lot of working poor, who have regular jobs and perhaps a comfortable home but no room left in their budget for food."
Hundreds of hampers are distributed around the city each Christmas. These contain a turkey and all the usual trimmings for a holiday meal. They also include gifts appropriate for all members of a family. Goold said collecting items for teenagers was especially important, and gift cards for popular local stores was a good example of how donors could help cover that need. Donated toys for smaller children and items for adults are always welcome.
"Parents sweat it out to the limit for the kids. Who then gets them a gift? We try to have something under the tree for everyone in the family," she said.
Food is also needed in abundance - nonperishable items and grocery store gift cards of all kinds - to get families through the post-Christmas period as employment slows down, winter heating costs go up, and so many other factors peck at a person's income.
A team of volunteers is also needed, for the different tasks to get the donated food into the necessary bare cupboards.
Goold called on all those interested to register as a volunteer for any of the following duties:
- Dec. 19, moving the donated food from the downtown storage room to the gym at St. Mary's School (1088 Gillett St.).
- Dec. 20, rationing the food into the hamper boxes.
- Dec. 21, driving the hampers to the door of the households in need.
Register as a volunteer at the St. Vincent de Paul drop-in centre (2nd Avenue and Dominion Street) or call them at 250-564-7871. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday.
The society also hosts a community Christmas dinner and food for that large event is also gratefully accepted. It is important to register as a volunteer for this event, too, as often there is an overabundance of people willing to help with this event.
For those unable to deliver food donations to the drop-in centre, Goold also reminded the public of the annual Red and White Hunger Fight food drive by the city's ambulance paramedics. An ambulance will be stationed in front of Save-On-Foods locations, so shoppers can purchase donations and load up the ambulance on the spot for St. Vincent de Paul meals.
- Dec. 6 (Hart Mall) from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Dec. 7 (Parkwood) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Dec. 13 (Spruceland) from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Dec. 14 (College Heights) from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
