Thursday on Global News Morning, Linda Grayston from the Christmas Cheer Board was in to talk about their annual Christmas campaign.
The registered charity provides over 18,000 Christmas hampers that include toys and food to individuals and families in Winnipeg each year.
Their mission is to help those who need it during the festive season, providing things a family needs on Christmas day.
What the charity needs most, in the way of donated items includes: canned meats, boxed cereal, candy and toys. The idea is to share things that make it a festive occasion.
They will also happily accept financial donations.
Donors can even sponsor a family directly through their Feed a Family program, which allows them to put together the entire hamper.
Drop off bins collecting food items will be set up at Winnipeg Safeway and Sobey’s locations starting Nov. 20.
More than half of the food and toys are donated by individuals and companies, with the rest being purchased using donated funds, Grayston said.
Cheer Board volunteers will also be taking collections Saturday during the Santa Claus Parade.
RELATED: Volunteers needed for Winnipeg’s Santa Claus Parade
If you’re interested in contributing to the Christmas Cheer Board, contact 204-989-5696 or visit their website here.
The Christmas Cheer Board was started in 1919 by a number of Winnipeg churches. The original idea was to provide Christmas hampers and toys for the widows and orphans of the soldiers lost during World War One.
According to the charity, it takes approximately 5,000 community helpers each year for the Christmas Cheer Board to operate.