Hampers help residents in need
Donations come in for Deh Cho Friendship Centre hamper program
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, December 3, 2015
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Donations are starting to come in for the Deh Cho Friendship Centre's Christmas hamper program and applications are open for community members in need.
Programs co-ordinator Tanya Hardisty said aside from monetary donations, the centre is also accepting donations in the form of non-perishable foods, such as dried and canned goods and macaroni.
As for funding, Hardisty said the hamper program has already received $1,500 from the Fort Simpson Metis Nation.
Lisa Lafferty, executive director for Fort Simpson Metis Nation said the nation donates that amount every year.
"That's the maximum that's in our policy to donate. Because it goes to the whole entire community, even the outside community in the region, we've got to give as much as we can," she said.
"It's important because it helps a lot of people in need. They don't have to worry about their Christmas dinner. It's just a gift of giving at Christmas - it's awesome."
Funds received from the community come from organizations, businesses and even individuals. Church groups also sometimes raise money for the cause.
"What we do with the funds is we make a large order through Northern to offset the Christmas hampers," Hardisty said.
If the centre does not get names from surrounding communities, Hardisty said, they normally put together a hamper for Fort Simpson's community feast.
Each year, the friendship centre usually gets 40 hampers donated by Salvation Army in Yellowknife as well. Last year, the centre gave out 70 hampers. The year before, that number hit 96.
"It's not strictly people from Fort Simpson -- sometimes, we'll get a phone call from Wrigley or Jean Marie River, Trout Lake, one of the smaller communities. The band office will basically tell us there are one or two families struggling at this time of year who want to put their names forward," Hardisty said. "We try to get it to them through someone going on a charter."
To receive a hamper, people must fill out an application form.
