Lethbridge’s Christmas Hope campaign helps 8,800 people

This year's Christmas Hope campaign is being called a success, with close to 9,000 people in need receiving support.

The 19^th annual Christmas Hope campaign has wrapped up and organizers are calling it another success.

“We were very unsure if we were going to meet the need because we had seen such high numbers through the year, but we were so grateful that the community stepped up once again and every family that came forward looking for help was able to enjoy a merry Christmas,” said Danielle McIntyre, executive director of the Interfaith Food Bank.

The 2025 campaign assisted 8,800 people, including 5,300 children and teenagers, 3,500 adults and 207 seniors.

• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

“We definitely did see our numbers go down a little bit this year in terms of our toy distribution, and that is intentional,” McIntyre said.

“We did some fine-tuning of our boundaries, did some surveying to see what other supports were available in outlying communities, and so our numbers were very close to what we had projected.”

Each year, the Interfaith Food Bank, Lethbridge Food Bank, Lethbridge Family Services’ Angel Tree, MyCityCare’s Shop of Wonders, the Salvation Army’s Toys for Tots and Volunteer Lethbridge partner for the campaign.

A new addition this year was the Golden Giving Tree, run by the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization.

The organizations share resources and data to ensure everyone’s needs are met.

“It just means a lot and to have a united front and to collaborate,” said Dryden Roesch, Lethbridge Family Services marketing manager. “I think it’s a model that could very easily be emulated in other cities.”

The holiday campaign saw close to 1,400 people volunteer.

They spent 11,000 hours giving back to the community in the month of December.

While the campaign and Christmas rush is over, McIntyre says the demand doesn’t stop and donations are needed year-round.

“It is never too late to give especially when it comes to food,” said McIntyre.

“People need to eat every day, and so keeping that food security forefront in mind and in action is really something that we could use.”