Even though it is only the start of October, the elves at KCR Community Resources are already preparing for the Sponsor a Family program.
This year, Santa needs your help to meet the needs of families and to make their season bright.
Share your holiday spirit by contributing to a hamper program that lifts families up and provides them with food, gifts and life essentials during this stressful and demanding season.
Started in 2006, the Sponsor a Family program annually helps over 100 families.
However, in recent years the need has increased significantly and additional sponsors are needed.
鈥淔irst the pandemic, then inflation and food insecurity has deeply impacted many of the vulnerable families in our community as they struggle to make ends meet. Many of these families are experiencing higher levels of anxiety and depression as they look at the increased demand of trying to provide for their families a 鈥榣ittle holiday happiness,鈥欌�� said Christine Hawkins, family services manager at KCR Community Resources.
鈥淎s a community, we want to join together to help these families. We are letting the community know that Santa needs our help. Every donations 鈥� big or small 鈥� makes a difference.鈥�
To access the program, caseworkers refer families who then put in requests that include individual profiles of each family member, allowing for personalized and appropriate gifts that children feel have been especially chosen for them, because they actually have been.
The program also ensures that the parent or parents are remembered, ensuring the caregiver is also looked after at this time of year.
鈥淭he Sponsor a Family program has been totally life-changing for us,鈥� said a mother, who with her four children, left an abusive husband.
鈥淭he journey to any kind of stability was a perilous one, but a safe home with regular food on the table was always the priority for me. The Holidays became heartbreaking.
鈥淭he Sponsor a Family program has been totally life-changing for us. This program, and the people involved in it, brought the magic of the holidays alive for us and reignited our faith in humanity. I am thankful, more than words can say, for the wonderful memories that will fill the children鈥檚 minds when they look back at their childhood holidays, which is entirely thanks to the Sponsor a Family program.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e benefited from the generosity of my community for the last few years and each year I am brought to tears with gratitude,鈥� shared another mother. 鈥淚n my past I鈥檝e been hesitant to ask for help or even accept it when offered. I didn鈥檛 feel worthy of help and I was embarrassed to not be completely independent and make do with what I had.
鈥淣ow as a mom, I realize how much people really want to help when they have the ways and means to do so, and it really does make such a difference. For me, I can certainly go without a bunch of gifts under the tree at Christmas, but seeing the difference it makes to my young son to have not only an abundance of presents, but that he is receiving items he has actually wished for; it鈥檚 the best feeling and worth squashing my pride for.
鈥淎nd yes, having some goodies for myself is great too! Even when I have spare cash throughout the year, I never use it on anything I want! Having someone be so thoughtful brings joy to my heart. Especially since my son is too young to think of his poor old mom on holidays, and there is no one in his life who would remind him or take him shopping except me anyway!鈥�
Anyone interested in the program is asked to contact Katrina or Tong at 250-763-8008, ext. 136 or sponsorafamily@kcr.ca. To donate online, go to .
If you are interested in sharing your volunteer or organizational news, contact Dorothee Birker at dorothee@kcr.ca.
