Lethbridge’s Christmas Hope launches as demand for support continues to grow

Lethbridge's largest Christmas campaign got underway Monday. The 19th annual Christmas Hope aims to help more than 9,000 people, including 6,000 kids.

An annual collaboration between several non-profit organizations to support those in need during the holiday season is officially underway.

Seven charities have joined forces for the 19th annual Christmas Hope campaign.

“Our needs, year-over-year, are increasing, and it’s just a reality of the world in which we live today, with rising costs and inflation and all of those kinds of things, but families are hurting, and they need more and more help at Christmastime,” said Lt. Zach Marshall, community ministries officer with the Salvation Army Lethbridge.

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 have partnered for the annual campaign.

A new addition this year is the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization’s Golden Giving Tree.

The campaign aims to serve 6,000 children, 3,000 adults and 250 seniors ahead of Christmas.

“The fact that we have this terrific group of people that all come together every year and say, ‘We’ve got this,’ and ‘We’re going to make this really special for everyone’ is a real privilege to be a part of,” said Valerie Lazicki, executive director of the Lethbridge Food Bank.

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

It’s the first year the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization (LSCO) has joined with its Golden Giving Tree.

LSCO executive director Kaitlynn Weaver says seniors are often isolated or alone during the holidays, and the tree is a way for residents to pick a senior in need and customize a gift specifically tailored to them.

“They tend to get forgotten over the Christmas season, and so for us to be able to partner with the Christmas Hope campaign helps bring that awareness to the needs of seniors in the city as well as gifts for them,” Weaver said.

Both food banks are preparing to serve more than 3,000 households throughout the holiday season, including with specialty items such as turkeys, hams and stuffing.

“Christmas Hope is about empowering, and through this we want to let parents be the ones to say, ‘I got this for you,’” said Tanya Lister, with MyCityCare’s Shop of Wonders.

“The parents get to be the hero, and the parents get to see the special spark in their child’s eyes.”

To meet the goal of helping more than 9,000 individuals, the organizations are calling on the community for help.

Residents can donate food, toys or money to any organization.

Volunteer Lethbridge will promote opportunities for volunteers for partner agencies.

“We very much depend on our community support, individual donors (and) group donors with both monetary donations and tangible offerings like food and toys,” Marshall said.

“It really has the chance to make or break Christmas.

“If you have a Christmas meal on the table and you have toys under the tree, that goes such a long way to ensure families are having a fun Christmas, but also just a hopeful Christmas.”

For a list of donations needed, to sign up for support or to volunteer, visit ChristmasHope.ca.