Warming up to this year’s Hamper Fund
The Knights of Columbus were welcomed with the “bear necessities” at the opening of the new Christmas Hamper Fund headquarters at Campbell River Common on Wednesday. Cathy Greer (centre) of the B.C. Liquor Store at Mariner Square dropped off the bears to volunteers Theo Burns (left) and John Dawson.
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Updated: November 20, 2009 9:18 AM
The Knights have a new home for their hampers.
It features a full kitchen, tidy washrooms, an old air hockey game, plenty of space for more than a thousand Christmas packages, and, perhaps most importantly, heat!
“It’s nice when people donate a space for us to use, but sometimes they’re trying to save money and don’t turn on the heat,” says John Dawson of the Knights of Columbus. “But it’s nice and warm in here!”
Yes, things are looking good for this year’s Christmas Hamper Fund. On Wednesday morning, Dawson and his fellow Knights were setting up tables at Campbell River Common in the retail space formerly used by Let ‘em Loose.
“He (the mall owner) gave it to us for nothing which is pretty nice,” says Theo Burns, a long-time Hamper Fund volunteer.
The Knights are preparing to fill at least 1,100 Christmas Hampers this year which are distributed to less fortunate families in the greater Campbell River area.
The hamper fund has been running for more than two decades and is a catch-all for local social service agencies as well as the food bank during the Christmas season.
The Knights happily accept all donations of non-perishable food items, toys and games for kids and teens, and good ol’ cash which allows them to make last-minute purchases.
As the tables went up in the Hamper Fund headquarters, the first boxes brought in didn’t contain a single crumb of food, but they were filled with plush Teddy bears.
“Three hundred and fourteen for now – possibly more depending on the generosity of our customers,” says Cathy Greer, assistant manger of the B.C. Liquor Store at Mariner Square.
The downtown store is selling the toy bears two for $11. One bear goes to the Hamper Fund while the customer gets to take the other home or, as many have done in the past, donates both to the cause.
“It’s the 20th anniversary of our Share A Bear program,” Greer adds.
Donations can be dropped at the Hamper Fund headquarters Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., until the end of November, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through December.
“I think we’re going to have a banner year,” predicts Dawson.
