The Christmas Bureau of Edmonton fundraising breakfast returned Thursday after a five-year hiatus. The 40th annual charity event was held at the JW Marriott in the city’s downtown. Money raised by the Christmas Bureau goes towards its hamper program, providing festive meals for those in need. “When you’re struggling and having a really hard time, that extra cost for that holiday meal might not be available,” Christmas Bureau executive director Stephanie Perilli told CTV News Edmonton. “If we can do something to lessen that burden for them, that’s what we have to do.” Perilli said the non-profit organization receives thousands of applications for food hampers, and that one-in-seven Edmontonians are currently living in poverty. She said that amounts to more than 130,000 people requesting help for the holidays. “We just don’t have the capacity and the resources to help everybody. We wish that we could and that’s why we rely so much on the community to help us out,” she said. The Christmas Bureau’s goal is to raise $1.7 million to help those in need. Perilli said she hopes people will make a “meaningful” donation no matter how much or how little they can afford. “Every dollar will count and every dollar makes a difference and every dollar will make the holidays happen for those in need,” Perilli said, adding that people can visit their website to find events and ways to support the charity. Donations can also be made online at christmasbureau.ca. The Christmas Bureau has been in Edmonton for 85 years. The holiday hampers will be delivered on Dec. 20. With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Cam Wiebe
