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By Ian Gustafson

Giving season

Red Deer not-for-profit organizations looking for more help during the holiday season

Dec 5, 2024 | 5:00 PM

The Red Deer Food Bank, Red Deer Christmas Bureau, and the Outreach Centre are looking for more help as they enter the holiday season, where support from the community is most vital.

The Food Bank said last year they had a healthy Christmas season but didn’t quite make it through the year without raising alarm bells that they were struggling.

In September the Food Bank nearly ran out of food completely but the community responded and continued to do so.

They’re now in a healthy spot once again with Christmas donations coming in but they also know they have a ways to go in order to make it through next year.

“Those who have the ability to make a monetary donation can make the biggest difference because we can buy strategically,” said executive director of the Red Deer Food Bank, Mitch Thomson.

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“Those who wish to donate food can donate things like peanut butter, canned meat, rice and cereal. Those are four of some of the most critical items we purchase quite often.”

Thomson added they’ve directed some of their funds so people have access to Christmas meals but are currently fundraising for approximately 300 to 400 households because they don’t have the ability to send them home with a turkey or a ham.

This month they expect to see around 1,100 households that will come in looking for a Christmas meal.

“We do that and of course we have our regular hamper program that we focus on also,” he said.

Recently, CarStar Red Deer and CarStar Red Deer South made a $5,000 donation to the Food Bank and the Christmas Bureau.

The Christmas Bureau said on Thursday they’re down in both monetary and toy donations. However, it is still early in the holiday season.

President of the Christmas Bureau Teresa Kutynec said they’re in need of toys for boys and girls aged zero to three years old. They’re also looking for toys for those over the age of 12 to 17.

Kutynec explained they haven’t seen as many monetary donations this year because of the Canada Post disruptions.

“We do get a lot of donations through the mail and because of the strike we haven’t seen those this year,” she said.

The money goes toward their food hamper program that costs them approximately $50,000 every year. They also have to pay for certain operating costs that keep the doors open and to purchase toys when they’re low in certain age groups.

“As of yesterday we’ve already got 600 applications for assistance come through and we still have eight more days,” she said, adding they’ll accept applications until Dec. 16.

For those hoping to donate to the Christmas Bureau they can e-transfer reddeerchristmasbureau@gmail.com or donate online through canadahelps.org.

People can also stop by the Christmas Bureau location at #2, 4630 – 61 Street in Red Deer to drop off any donations.

“Red Deer has been really generous and we always thank everybody who’s donated,” Kutynec said.

Meanwhile, The Outreach Centre says the ongoing Canada Post strike is creating challenges for their Adopt-a-Family program.

Those hoping to make a donation are encouraged to make their contributions online or in person instead of mailing in a cheque.

Adopt-a-Family is a vital program at The Outreach Centre that provides gift cards to single parent families, allowing parents and caregivers to purchase the gifts or food that they know they need for their families.

Demand for the program has increased over the years and this year, 156 families with over 485 children combined have applied for Adopt a Family.

Applications being accepted until Dec. 19.

To donate to the Adopt a Family Program, you can visit The Outreach Centre at 4101 – 54 Avenue, call 403-347-2480, email info@theoutreachcentre.org, or donate online at theoutreachcentre.org.