Giving This Christmas
There are so many individuals donating their time, energy, funds, food, creativity and more to help those in need have a merrier Christmas in the Elk Valley. From the Ice Gala, which raises money for the Salvation Army, to the various Christmas Campaigns the Salvation holds itself, to Parkplace Lodge’s Charity Tree Fundraiser, to a gift wrapping duo, the Christmas Spirit is in the air.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is back at their Christmas campaigns this year. Get involved where you can, there are a variety of ways to give back thanks to the Salvation Army this winter! In 2008 alone, there were a total of 186 hampers, with 639 children receiving gifts. Each hamper provides the essentials for a Christmas dinner and at least sufficient food for two to three weeks. More than 900 individuals benefited from the Salvation Army Hampers, the Adopt a Family program, and the Christmas Angel program and these people are not just from Fernie, but Valley wide including the South Country.
The Angel Tree's will be out again this year starting on November 27, locations include Overwaitea, Curves, ReMax downtown and the Fernie Heritage Library. The trees are adorned with angel decorations which provide a child's size, age and some suggestions are given. It is up to you to purchase all or part of the suggested gifts. Once purchased, the gifts can be dropped off at ReMax downtown or at Curves where they will be wrapped and ready for Christmas.
The Adopt a Family program is taken on by Service Clubs, Churches and Businesses. Individuals are welcome to participate also. Organizations or individuals that choose to support this program are given a family that the can provide the Hamper and Gifts, or just the Hamper or just the Gifts for the entire family. There were 25 Adopted Families last Christmas. This is such a great way for a group of people to make a big difference in the community.
The Kettle Campaign is always in need of people to stand at the kettles. Locations include Overwaitea, the Liquor Store, the Post Office and Canadian Tire. You can sign up for 1 or times slots at the Salvation Army. It doesn’t matter if you can spare one hour or several hours, all help is appreciated as the Kettles are extremely important to the Family Services for the coming year. More than 1000 individuals gave time to assist with the 2008 campaign.
School children bringing food to school for hampers, Service Clubs ringing the bell at the kettles, people wrapping the angel gifts, people taking the angels and providing gifts – all of the volunteers are the backbone of the Salvation Army’s Christmas Campaign. For more information or to sign up for any program, contact Major Joan Shayler at 250-423-4661.
Charity Trees at Park Place Lodge
The Park Place Lodge will be hosting their Charity Tree Fundraising Event, which began at the end of November. Over the past 13 years, this fundraising event has helped to raise over $10,000.00 for local charities and nonprofit organizations in the Elk Valley.
Each year the Park Place Lodge supplies a seven foot tree, with stand and, starting this year, will provide up to $200 for supplies to help organizations create their own unique decorations.
To help the participating organizations with their fundraising efforts, the Park Place Lodge organizes and hosts two special events throughout the holidays to help raise donations. These events include a Santa Claus Breakfast, which will be held on Sunday December 6, 2009. $2 from every breakfast will go directly to the charities. Santa also takes time out of his busy schedule to come and take pictures with the kids!
Park Place Lodge also does a spin on the 12 days of Christmas where for the 12 days leading up to Christmas the hotel matches dollar for dollar every donation generated through the front desk and Max Restaurant.
“We have always been extremely pleased with the number of participants and the quality of decorating done to each tree,” says Sheila Byers, Hotel General Manager. “Everyone who visits the Park Place Lodge in December comments on how beautiful the trees are and people are encouraged to make a donation directly to any charity they choose.
For more information get in touch with Sheila Byers at 250-423-6871, manager@parkplacelodge.com or Scott Gilmet at 250-423-6008 x26, sales@parkplacelodge.com.
It’s a Wrap!
When Stacie Zimmer thinks of Christmas, she thinks of all of the happy memories she had as a little girl. Shopping with her mom for her sister and dad’s presents, going to see aunts, uncles and cousins, ice skating on Christmas Eve, watching the adults really enjoy their “Christmas cheer”, closeness to family and friends, and feeling content because for one day, everything within her world was absolutely perfect.
She moved to Fernie several years ago, and her younger sister Tristan came to visit during her first Christmas, “to cushion the blow of Christmas without the BIG family dinners,” says Stacie. Tristan fell in love with Fernie, and ended up moving here the following year. For Tristan’s first Christmas, the sisters brainstormed for ways to bring the joy they felt in “the season” with such a huge part of their tradition from back home missing. Stacie and Tristan decided to start a voluntary gift wrapping booth, donating the proceeds to the Salvation Army‘s Christmas campaign.
“We canvassed over 60 businesses in town, asking for donations of wrapping paper, ribbons, tape, and anything else we’d need to wrap presents big or small. The response was, to minimize it, OVERWHELMING. We wrapped that first year for three weekends prior to Christmas, and raised over $600 for the Salvation Army. It brought tears to our eyes, and Christmas Spirit to our hearts,” says Stacie.
This is their fourth year wrapping, and they will be at the Fernie Quality Bakery building (made possible through the generosity of the owner who is letting them use her space). They will be offering gift wrapping on the weekends of December 11-13 and 18-20. Times are Fridays and Saturdays from 2:00pm-6:00pm, and Sundays from 1:00pm-5:00pm. They will also be wrapping on December 22 and 23 from 2:00-6:00pm. All that they raise in donations is given to the Salvation Army Christmas Eve morning.
“If you are all thumbs when it comes to ribbons and bows, bring your gifts of any size to us and we’ll take care of the wrapping for you. We don’t have a set amount of money per gift wrapped; any amount you wish to donate is wonderful. The response thus far has been amazing, and with your help we’re hoping to make this our best year yet,” she adds.
There are sure to be many opportunities besides those listed here for you to give back this year. Keep your eyes, ears and hearts open, and the creative juices flowing and lend a helping hand! Merry Christmas.
