It is a busy time of year for the Salvation Army of Weyburn, especially as their volunteers work hard to ensure that every family in need has a happy and fulfilled Christmas season.
“We had the same number of families who applied for our Adopt a Family program this year,” said Laura Morrissette, the community ministries coordinator for the Weyburn Salvation Army. “We are still getting one or two applications that trickle in, but I have more sponsors than families which is a wonderful problem to have.”
The Salvation Army provides single, couple and family hampers to those who have applied through the program, and those hampers are filled with food and Christmas gifts through the generous support of local businesses and community groups.
“We will take applications for hampers right up to Christmas Eve, and we will make sure that every family in Weyburn has a good Christmas this year.”
The Salvation Army will start to prepare their hampers on Monday, Dec. 22, and all sponsors to the Adopt A Family program will have to drop off items to the Salvation Army from 9 a.m. to noon on that day. All applicants to the program pick up the hampers on Tuesday, Dec. 23 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Anyone who wants to volunteer to sort through the donated items are encouraged to contact Morrissette at the Weyburn Salvation Army office.
“It is such a phenomenal experience, and it is such a great way to give back. You watch the people who are so excited because they bought Christmas for someone else … or the people who are receiving it,” said Morrissette. She has volunteered with the program for a number of years, and noted that often she had tears of joy due to seeing the generosity of the community.
When it comes to food donations, Morrissette noted they never turn anything away that is given to the Salvation Army, but noted that they are unable to donate home-baked goods into their Christmas hampers.
“As much as we want to use these items, anything we give out in the hampers have to be made in a registered kitchen,” explained Morrissette. She added that often the home-made donations will be used by their volunteers.
There are a number of items that would be an asset for the Salvation Army food bank, including frozen fruit and vegetables, canned fruit and vegetables, and stovetop stuffing.
“If you have processed meat, that was processed through a proper processing plant, as long as it is dated and marked we can take frozen meat donations.”
One of their annual Christmas programs is the annual Christmas Community Dinner, which is set for Thursday, Dec. 18. They encourage any local resident to come on down to the Captain’s Hall for the event, which starts at 6 p.m.
“Everyone is invited to come down, it doesn’t matter if you are a client or a volunteer,” said Morrissette.
She noted that an anonymous sponsor helps provide food for 150 people, and another anonymous baker contributes home-made pies.
“If you are going to be away for Christmas, but want to share a meal with some of your friends, come on down.”
The Salvation Army will also host their Christmas Eve service at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 24.
Residents are also reminded that the Kettle campaign will be out in the community until Christmas Eve, and that financial support will help benefit the programs offered by the Salvation Army.
Anyone who wants to volunteer at a kettle can contact Helen Orsted or Morrissette.
