Feed - A - Family

BY SCOTT MOORE, REALTOR

The holiday season is a beautiful time a year but it can also be a stressful time for many, especially this year given the rising costs of inflation. If you’re looking for a way to help, an option for charitable giving that I wanted to put on your radar is The Christmas Cheer Board’s Feed - A - Family Program.

This year, the CCB received over 30,000 requests for hampers on the first day of operations— in a normal year, 19,000 hampers are provided, so they will need all the help we can give this year!

This program has been a part of my family’s holiday traditions since our years in Vancouver. Over the years, we’ve dropped off hampers to many different families—some particularly memorable ones were a young couple with newborn twins, a family that had a freshly harvested deer in the yard awaiting the butcher, a pregnant mom that spoke only Japanese, a single dad with five girls, and many more.

All of these families were getting by, but I doubt many of them had the “extra” it takes to pull off much of a holiday celebration without this little boost. 

How does the Feed – A – Family Program work?

First you apply via the website, where you can choose the size of the family you want to sponsor, as well as make any specific requests you may have for the family that you want to be matched with. The CCB will assign a family to you within 2-3 business days.

The Christmas Cheer Board provides a grocery list depending on the family size as well as gift information for children. After connecting with your sponsored family, you can tailor children’s gifts for a girl or boy to make their holiday even more special!

It usually costs between $200-$300 (with tax receipt provided once you submit your receipts to the Cheer Board). If your budget is lower, requesting a small family could get the cost in the $150 range. 

Once you’ve collected the required items, you’ll deliver the hamper directly to the family, providing an immediate impact on their lives. Hamper deliveries must happen between December 14 – 21, 2023.

The secret here is that it isn’t just a gift for their family, but it’s a gift for your family too. My wife and I have always involved our kids in the shopping, preparing and delivery of the hamper. Doing this for people that we don’t know is one of the ways we teach our own kids about generosity, responsibility and gratitude. They know that part of the way we celebrate Christmas is by including others in our larger community, and that our duty as people with the resources to enjoy a celebration is to make sure to share with others. 

Where can I register to sponsor a hamper?

You can complete a registration form to sponsor a family here, or call The CCB at 204-989-5680.

You can visit The Christmas Cheer Board’s website for more information on how to get involved and more details on the process.

What is the Christmas Cheer Board?

The Christmas Cheer board is a registered charitable organization and has been operating for over 100 years.

Volunteers from diverse backgrounds donate their time to assemble and deliver food and toys to those in need. Each year they rely on vacant and available warehouses to operate out of for the months of November & December.

I know there’s lots of competition for holiday giving dollars, but that’s my pitch! Happy Holidays in advance!