The annual Christmas Hamper program at the Bradford Helping Hand Food Bank has come to a close for 2019, and it was the biggest year yet, with 185 hampers distributed on Thursday evening at Holy Martyrs of Japan Church.
Dozens of volunteers from the community, including the Helping Hand Food Bank volunteers, staff from Bradford RBC, the mayor and councillors, as well as members of the church, were on hand Thursday evening to help organize and distribute the hampers.
Each hamper contained two boxes filled with locally grown vegetables–celery, carrots, onions, cabbage and a bag of potatoes; milk, cheese, eggs, fresh bread, orange juice, apples, oranges, cereal, pineapple, instant mashed potatoes; and a turkey or ham with all the fixings--gravy, stuffing and cranberry sauce.
This year, clients received a 'bonus' hamper, filled with additional festive items like cookies, maple syrup, pet treats, hot chocolate and coffee, courtesy of local sisters Sarah and Emily Dahlgren and their efforts behind 'A Bradford Christmas', a fundraising initiative they created to give those in need something a 'little extra' this holiday season.
The girls began their fundraising back in the fall, selling festive decor items, and sending letters to local and large businesses seeking sponsorships and donations to help fill the festive hampers.
After all their hard work and tireless efforts, they were able to see the fruits of their labour come to fruition on Thursday, with the distribution of 185 of their hampers, filled with $75 worth of items in each of them, to the clients.
"It's all been great, it's been a fun venture," said Sarah of their first year with 'A Bradford Christmas.'
The girls said they have learned a lot from the experience, which will help them for planning next year.
"We learned so many lessons," said Emily.
The girls commended the Helping Hand Food Bank for being very organized, "which is a huge part of this," acknowledged Emily.
Clients were not only able to take away food and treats, to the side of the room were garbage bags filled with dolls, teddy bears, board games and other fun toys for the clients with children.
The toy donations are organized by volunteers, John Blake and Brian Gallagher with toy collections set up throughout the town, including high schools and local businesses.
"It's a good community initiative to give back, and helping supporting families," said Gallagher, who has been volunteering with the toy drive for just over 20 years.
Husband and wife, Anthony and Donna Venroy are members of the church and volunteer at the Christmas Hamper night every year.
"This is our gift to each other, because we have so much," said Donna.
Every year, they adopt a family that gets assigned to them, and buy all sorts of items pertaining to their specific interests.
The couple does not have any kids of their own so it's fun, Donna said, to go shopping for the kids.
"I really enjoy it," she said.
