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Red Deer Christmas Bureau. (rdnewsNOW/Alessia Proietti)
Donations needed for teenagers

Red Deer Christmas Bureau sees significant increase in applications within first three days

Nov 3, 2023 | 5:26 PM

Although we may have just finished Halloween, the holiday season will be here before we know it and the Red Deer Christmas Bureau is already seeing many families planning ahead.

Serving communities for over 60 years, the Bureau provides individuals in need with assistance for Christmas meals and children’s presents.

The Bureau began accepting applications on November 1 and will be doing so until December 15 for families in Red Deer, Red Deer County, Penhold and Springbrook.

Teresa Kutynec, President of the Bureau, says they have already received applications of around 20 families per day since opening, a significant increase from last year.

She says normally, as it is early and the weather is still fairly warm, most don’t have Christmas top-of-mind, resulting in roughly five applications per day during the first week.

“We have a lot of immigrant families in Red Deer and I think that they’ve come here and they don’t have a lot of income and they’ve heard about the service so they’ve come to apply and they qualify because they fall within our regulations. We’ve had a lot of Ukrainian families already,” she said.

In 2022, Kutynec says they received 1,009 applications. While some did not meet the requirements and others chose to receive aid from other organizations instead, she says the Bureau was still able to provide 793 children with toys and distribute 877 food hampers to families, which can also include an adult or senior couple.

Kutynec says there is no cap for applications and everyone in need will be provided for.

The second year in their new location (2-4630 61 St.), increasing from 4,500 square feet to 9,300, she says they thankfully always have a bit of stock from the previous year to start their season off right; however, they are still in need of gifts for teenagers, aged 10-17.

The Bureau uses monetary donations to purchase food for hampers rather than donations, with hamper pick-up only on December 21 and 22 to serve families in need with a full holiday meal.

“It’s always very heartwarming to be able to help people out; it’s a hard time of year. Things are tough and it’s hard to find jobs and a decent living right now. The rental market is a tough market, so I really feel for the families, especially new families coming here; it’s got to be difficult to try to make ends meet. For everybody else too, it’s the same thing; the increase in rent and the increase of the utilities is just crazy. I can imagine it’s very difficult so we are able to provide a bit of a relief for them, at least at Christmas time, so they can at least provide toys for the kids and we can give them a Christmas meal,” she said.

For their second year in a row, one way the organization is raising funds is through the Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis’s (AGLC) charitable gaming model. Once a month for the entire year, four volunteers from the Bureau work a five-hour shift at the Red Deer Bingo Centre to receive a portion of the proceeds distributed to a variety of charities.

Other fundraising initiatives this year include the traditional Charity Checkstop, Red Deer Rebels Toque Toss, Stuff a Buss, and more. They are also selling Poinsettias from Blue Sod Farms for the second year in a row.

Kutynec says while they have returning volunteers, they are always looking for people for their bingo nights or those with administrative skills.

Above all, Kutynec says she hopes that the public remembers this year to be kind during these challenging times.

“We need to be kind to everybody and just remember that everybody’s trying to start somewhere,” she said.

Toy pick-up begins on Monday until December 18, and families applying must provide one month’s current bank statement, pay stub, Alberta Heath Care card, and identification with a current address, and income support or AISH cards if applicable.

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