Operation Christmas Elf spreads cheer
Operation a huge success in Chesterfield Inlet
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
CHESTERFIELD INLET
A large number of people, especially children, enjoyed a little extra Christmas cheer this year, thanks to the efforts of a local couple in Chesterfield Inlet.
RCMP Const. Tiffany Woodman and her partner, Lori Olson, led a drive that saw 22 families receive a holiday food hamper. In addition, all 157 children in the community were presented with a special Christmas gift.
Woodman, who arrived in Chester in July 2015, said Olson contacted family members and friends in the south, gathering monetary donations for what Olson dubbed Operation Christmas Elf.
Olson purchased the toys online, based on the age of every boy and girl in the community.
"We talked to the teachers at Victor Sammurtok to get all the ages of the kids in school," said Woodman.
"Then, she (Olson) contacted the day care for the information there. We spoke to members of the community to get the remaining names and ages of the babies, newborns and kids under school age in town."
Their detective work paid off.
"We're confident we got them all, even the baby who was born just a couple of days before Christmas," said Woodman.
The money for the food hampers came from the community, Woodman, RCMP Cpl. Craig Lowe and a family from Alberta who had visited Chester two years earlier who made a "substantial cash donation," said Woodman.
"The RCMP members who were here two summers ago drove the family around and showed them the community when they landed in Chester," said Woodman.
"That, obviously, made quite an impression on the family for them to donate to our Christmas hamper drive."
The Northern store, the Chesterfield Inlet Development Corp., the local Co-op and the school's student council also helped out.
"It was well worth the time and effort when we saw the smiles on the families when we were delivering everything," said Woodman.
"Many of them were shocked when we knocked on their door and then came in with boxes of food and big turkeys. Going around wearing Santa hats and seeing the kids react to all the wrapped Christmas presents was really pretty special."
