An assembly line of about 100 volunteers were hard at work at the Edmonton Expo Centre on Friday, as they prepared holiday hampers for families in need. Holiday Hamper, an entirely volunteer-run organization, collects donated protein and fresh produce to make hampers for those in need in Edmonton. Volunteers were packing bags filled with donated turkey, fish, vegetables and other surprises that will be collected by about 1,500 holiday “Elves” on Saturday and hand-delivered directly to a family “adopted” by the elf. “We’re seeing the need and we have plenty of Edmontonians that are willing to step up and help,” Megan Normandeau, with Holiday Hamper, told CTV News Edmonton on Friday. Holiday Hamper expects to deliver about 2,000 hampers this year – the highest number-to-date in its 21 years of operation. The numbers needing help has increased by 100 to 200 families each year, according to Normandeau. Local school partners and the Christmas Bureau help the charity identify families in need of the hamper program. “It’s a very vulnerable experience receiving a hamper,” Normandeau said, adding that some families will be receiving a hamper for the first time this year. “As food insecurity continues to rise, we’ve seen an unprecedented increase in the number of families needing support,” Holiday Hamper Program Chair Heather O’Kane said in a news statement on Friday. “It’s heartwarming to see how our community comes together during challenging times, from the volunteers who help us organize to the Elves who adopt families and deliver these hampers with care and kindness.” More than 25,000 lbs of frozen turkey, 5,000 lbs of frozen fish, and 50,000 lbs of fresh produce have been raised with support from local businesses, farmers, and producers. The holiday hampers will be collected by the Elves on Saturday morning in a drive-thru style format. Each volunteer will collect protein and produce based on the size of the family they are delivering the hamper to. More than 12 cars are expected to pull-up every three minutes during the two-hour collection time starting at 9 a.m. With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Evan Klippenstein
