There’s some cheer leftover at the Christmas Cheer Board — and it’s looking to share.
Approximately 500 hampers are available for people in need. The charity over-ordered this year to ensure demand was met, said Shawna Bell, the Christmas Cheer Board’s executive director.
The number of hampers circulating has dipped slightly below the roughly 20,500 of 2023. This year, the Cheer Board has counted 20,000 hampers delivered.
MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES
Shawna Bell, executive director of the Christmas Cheer Board, still had about 500 hampers available as of Sunday.
It’s a drastic change from last year, when the Cheer Board shut off its phones for hamper applications as demand exceeded capacity.
“We’re really actively trying to discourage double dipping,” Bell said. “I think that might be part of it.”
The Cheer Board has more vigorously checked whether applicants were receiving hampers from other social agencies, hence the “double dipping” issue. Hundreds of people were found taking more than one hamper last year, Bell previously told the Free Press.
There’s been less demand from Ukrainian immigrants, which also likely contributed to leftover hampers this season, Bell noted Sunday.
Many Ukrainian families’ circumstances have changed — parents have found full-time employment and aren’t in need, Bell continued.
The remaining hampers are open to people who haven’t yet applied through the Christmas Cheer Board. Bell urged organizations unable to meet hamper demands to let their applicants know about the Cheer Board’s remains.
“We want to make sure that no one’s getting left behind this year,” Bell said.
New applicants can call 204-989-5683 or apply via walk-in at the 895 Century St. warehouse. Recipients must pick up their hampers; the Cheer Board no longer needs delivery drivers.
The Christmas Cheer Board is operating Monday, Dec. 23 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Christmas Eve from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
It’s closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and it reopens for pick-up only on Dec. 27 and Dec. 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com
Gabrielle Piché
Reporter
Gabrielle Piché reports on business for the Free Press. She interned at the Free Press and worked for its sister outlet, Canstar Community News, before entering the business beat in 2021. Read more about Gabrielle.
Every piece of reporting Gabrielle produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
