Local holiday campaign aims to feed more than 2,000 families

The Holiday Hamper program is asking people to buy groceries for less fortunate families. 250 families have already signed up to help this year.

The Holiday Hamper campaign is back in Edmonton for its 21st year.

Last year, the volunteer event successfully delivered more than 2,000 hampers filled with food to families in need city-wide.

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

“It would be great if we shot to get maybe 2,200 to 2,500,” Holiday Hamper founding board member Chris Curtola said. “But the reality is that there’s actually more than that in need. We estimate it, depending on when we get the numbers, it could be anywhere between 6,000 to 10,000 families that are in need in the city.”

On Wednesday, the campaign opened to Elf Recruitment. Becoming an elf means to adopt a local family in need, shop for food items and deliver the hamper in time for Christmas.

This year, all volunteer elves will be preparing holiday hampers until delivery on Dec. 20.

The deadline to sign-up to be an elf is mid-November.