Features

	Search NNSL

.

Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

The Christmas hampers and toys program at the Salvation Army stored over 460 boxes of Christmas items during the week of Dec. 15. All were sent out to those in need this season. - photo courtesy of Julie Gould-Benreddad

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Yellowknife's Salvation Army didn't have enough donations this Christmas season to meet the needs of the many less fortunate people it serves.

The Salvation Army's Christmas hamper program for NWT communities issued 206 hampers, or baskets of donated goods. The adopt-a-family program, which serves Yellowknife and a few surrounding communities, offered around 260 hampers and toys. The NWT total of 466 was above last year's by about 20 hampers.

"We were short teenager toys like (for ages) 13 and 14," said Julie Gould-Benreddad, director of community services and the homeless shelter for men.

She said the shelter had to purchase Christmas gifts for that age group itself, which was "not something we anticipated."

"We have lots of gifts for smaller kids," she said.

Gould-Benreddad said the Salvation Army was also short on turkeys for its Christmas dinner. The shortfall was also covered by the Salvation Army.

"We didn't have the supplies to do it all," Gould-Benreddad said.

Gould-Benreddad said she didn't have an exact amount, but said the Salvation Army was short by around $2,500 on mail-in donations.

She said Yellowknifers could "dig a little deeper" into their pockets, but added 2008 was a rough year for many, given the economic recession.

"Christmas is a hard time for a lot of families, even more so now," she said.

The Salvation Army did have an "overall 40 volunteers" from Yellowknife who volunteered their time this past Christmas season.