A Central Alberta woman is one of eight Canadians to be recognized through the first-ever Wishbone Awards.
Think Turkey created the Wishbone Awards this year to honour unsung heroes who are helping to fight food insecurity during the holidays. The awards were launched in response to record-high food insecurity across Canada.
Sharmane Hindbo, of Caroline, was Alberta’s sole recipient for 2023. For the past 16 years, Hindbo and a team of 20 or so people have helped prepare and host a turkey dinner for 150 individuals on Christmas Day.
“It’s for people who have no place to go at Christmastime,” Hindbo said.
“Caroline isn’t a very big community, but it’s kind of a hub for a few other communities in the surrounding area. … There’s no shortage of people who want to get out, visit with their neighbours and do Christmas that way.”
Throughout the years, different volunteers have helped cook the turkeys. From there, Hindbo and turn Caroline’s Legion branch into a Christmas dining hall.
“Even on Christmas Day, the kitchen is just hopping. It’s really busy,” Hindbo noted.
Hindbo, who owns a ranching and outfitting business with her husband Lorne, said it means a lot to receive recognition from the Wishbone Awards.
Wishbone Award recipients receive a $2,500 grant to help fund their community efforts.
“That funding is really timely this year. There’s no disposable income for so many people. Our Christmas Day dinner will be fine – we don’t ask for money, but we appreciate donations,” said Hindbo.
“We don’t expect anyone to because because a lot of people can’t. There’s usually enough to help out a little bit, but from the two years of COVID we were behind.”
Nominations for the Wishbone Awards were open from Nov. 2-15 – Canadians were invited to “share the story of a community hero who embodies the holiday spirit and is dedicated to fighting food insecurity.”
The Wishbone Awards are part of The Wishbone Project, which is a charitable initiative launched in 2020 by Canada’s turkey farmers and processors aiming to give back to communities across Canada through food and funds. Since its launch, The Wishbone Project has raised over $240,000, empowering local non-profits, charities, and community heroes to combat food insecurity.
“We hope the stories of these outstanding individuals inspire even more Canadians to pull together to make people’s holiday wishes come true,” said Mark Hubert, Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors president and CEO.
In addition to the $20,000 in Wishbone grants awarded to recipients, Think Turkey will be donating $10,000 to Food Banks Canada.
For more information on the Wishbone Awards and to read the stories of all eight 2023 recipients, visit ThinkTurkey.ca/Wishbone.
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