Drivers deliver Christmas miracle for Winnipeg cheer board

CTV’s Ainsley McPhail pays a visit to the Christmas Cheer Board’s office, where they are putting the final bow on the 2025 campaign.

Thousands more Winnipeggers will have a very merry Christmas thanks to helping hands.

With more than five thousand hampers still needing to go out as of Dec. 16, the Christmas Cheer Board in Winnipeg put out urgent call for volunteer drivers.

Shawna Bell, the charity’s executive director, said there was an outpouring of support over the weekend.

“Yesterday morning when we opened up the warehouse, we actually only had about 350 hampers left and they were gone by noon yesterday,” Bell said Tuesday.

Bell said the organization had more than 21,000 applications this year, with the cheer board packing a hamper for each one. Inside - enough food to get families through the holidays and wrapped toys for families with children.

“It makes you feel so emotional to see how people rally together to support one another.”

Applications closed Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Hampers can be picked up at the cheer board’s 1441 Main Street location until 1 p.m. Wednesday, before it closes for Christmas Eve and Christmas.

The cheer board will reopen Dec. 28 and 29 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. before closing for the year.