Santa’s Elves working hard to make holiday magic

The Christmas Hamper Program & Santa’s Elves are now collecting non-perishable food, unwrapped new toys and cash donations for the holiday season.  Everything raised from the programs is going to help those in need in the community. Co-chair of the Christmas Hamper Program and Bonnyville’s Mayor, Gene Sobolewski, says they’re expecting a higher number of those in need of the program this year.

“Last year we did 264 hampers and we’re expecting more this year,” confirmed Sobolewski.

“There’s two components, the one that’s really really really near and dear to my heart is the hamper program. What I do is collect the info and compile, then I provide it to Santa’s Elves because we work collaboratively together.” Mayor Sobolewski is a member of the local Knights of Columbus organization is heads up the program; with help collecting donations from local businesses, Bonnyville Centralized High School (BCHS), the Bonnyville Friendship Centre and the local grocery stores.

There are multiple drop-off locations throughout the community including; Bonnyville Dodge, Ducharme Motors, Pharmasave, Cash-Co, Red Apple, Duclos Elementary School, H.E. Bourgoin Middle School, and Lakeland Variety

Delivery for the program is a little earlier than in past years, explained Sobolewski. “The way the school year is working and the way the holiday break is, if we did it a week later we wouldn’t get a lot of volunteers because everyone’s taken off doing the Christmas thing.”  This year all the gifts will be wrapped and ready to go out on December 15th.

To sign up for the program visit the Bonnyville Friendship Centre or Alberta Works.