Supplies are falling while need rises among Red Deer charities trying to spread some cheer this Christmas.
The Red Deer Christmas Bureau, Central Alberta Women’s Outreach and Red Deer branch of the Salvation Army all report that the number of people applying for help with Christmas food and gifts has increased over last year. Levels of support, on the other hand, have fallen off.
“We did have a good carryover from last year to get us started,” said Willy Bullock, executive director of the Christmas Bureau.
“We’re into our second or third week where our toy boxes have been out in the malls and businesses, and there has been absolutely nothing come in from either mall. I don’t know why,” said Bullock.
Shawna Wilnechenko, family services co-ordinator for the Salvation Army, said on Friday that the church will likely have to tap into its reserves to make up the gap between the number of people seeking help and the number of donors who are contributing to its Adopt-A-Family Program.
“Last year, I think we did 135 families. We are at right around 120 now. We’ve got a good two weeks left. The way it’s going, I think we’ll be around 160 to 180,” said Wilnechenko.
There’s a similar story at the Women’s Outreach, which also runs an Adopt-A-Family program, matching donors with moms, dads and children to provide gifts and a healthy load of groceries for Christmas dinner.
“So far, we’re sitting pretty good . . . at about 80 families,” said executive director Barb Barber.
Barber said she cannot draw comparisons with last year’s numbers because they have changed their criteria to accept only those families who have not used their programs before.
Families the Women’s Outreach have helped in the past can still get their Christmas goodies from one of the other two organizations. The Women’s Outreach, Christmas Bureau and Salvation Army all co-ordinate their efforts to ensure that there’s something for everyone and that there is no overlap, said Barber.
Even with the change in criteria, the number of people seeking help is up “a bit” from last year, she said. Barber had anticipated an increase, based on response to the Tools for Schools program. Her agency distributed 1,035 backpacks for the 2010-11 school season, compared with about 850 for the previous year.
So far, sponsors for its Adopt-A-Family program are just keeping up with the demand.
Barber anticipates a rush in the next few days as Dec. 1 rolls around and more people catch Christmas spirit.
While the Christmas Bureau does not offer an Adopt-A-Family program, it strives to assemble Christmas gifts and food hampers from direct donations as well as number of events that help bring in money, groceries and gifts, said Bullock.
By Friday, applications for help from the Christmas Bureau were up by 15-20 families from last year, including an increase of 30 children, she said.
Numbers are being bolstered by families who have come from other provinces, especially B.C.
While unable to predict how much of an increase she will see this year, she said all charitable groups are seeing an increase in demand this year, including the food and clothing banks.
Events being organized to help collect donations for the Food Bank include the Stuff-A-Bus campaign at the Parkland Mall, coming Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The Red Deer City RCMP have planned a Charity Check Stop on Saturday, which Bullock hopes is not the same catastrophe as last year. Tried twice in December of 2009, both attempts had to be cancelled due to stormy weather.
Proceeds are due in a few more days from the City of Red Deer’s Toys for Tickets program. People who were issued parking tickets from Nov. 1 through Dec. 2 can give toys in lieu of payment during business hours.
Toys will be accepted on the first floor of Red Deer City Hall during business hours on Thursday and Friday.
Red Deer Dairy Queens have also set up their angel trees.
DQ customers are invited to take the recipients' ages from the trees and bring back an appropriate toy.
Rebels fans can get in on the action at Saturday’s home game by taking part in the tuque toss.
Bullock and Wilnechenko both said that while supplies of children’s gifts are short all around, the need is strongest for teenagers, especially those in their mid-teens.
All three groups plan to accept applications for help until Dec. 10. Donations are always gratefully accepted, said Barber.
bkossowan@www.reddeeradvocate.com