Two community groups are helping each other provide holiday cheer to the less fortunate.
The Flin Flon Aboriginal Friendship Centre and Salvation Army are both busy with their annual Christmas plans. Registration for Salvation Army Christmas hampers began on Tuesday and will continue on through Nov. 23 from 10 am to 3 pm.
The Salvation Army’s Christmas kettle drive will begin on Nov. 24 to help finance the hamper program. Bellringers and their donation bubbles will be around the community every Thursday, Friday and Saturday throughout the holiday season.
Volunteers are still needed to fill some vacant days for the program, mostly on Thursdays and Fridays.
“We have church groups, Rotary and others who come out and cover the Saturdays,” said Major Debbie Allen.
“Friday nights are covered – a youth group at the Friendship Centre comes out and looks after all our Friday nights.”
Meanwhile, the Friendship Centre is preparing its Christmas gift program for another year.
The gift program has a simple goal.
“The program objective is to provide an opportunity for parents and guardians to give their children a gift at Christmas when circumstances may otherwise prevent them from doing so,” said Jolene Gardiner, program and events coordinator for the Flin Flon Aboriginal Friendship Centre.
This year, the Friendship Centre is partnering with the Salvation Army to help target people who could benefit most from the gift program. People can register for the gift program when they register for a Salvation Army hamper.
Last year, 162 families signed up for the gift program, an increase from 2015. The number of gifts donated to the program – 476 – also increased.
Registrants will need their health cards during registration.
The centre will also be holding a Fill the Sleigh day on Dec. 9 at Red Apple on Main Street. Donations from the event will go toward the gift program.
