Elk Point Community Lions Annual Santa’s Anonymous and Food Drive is a success

On December 6th, the Community Lions were at the Cornerstone Co-op in Elk Point collecting donations for their annual Santa’s Anonymous and Food Drive. 

This program provided Christmas food hampers to families in the area who were facing financial difficulties.

“We are always impressed with the generosity, about $1,500 was raised through the tills and our Plinko game,” said Sandie Bishop, Community Lions of Elk Point.

“We are collecting funds through Lakeland Co-op for Santa’s Anonymous. We are not selling the hunger bags this year, but the funds are directly credited to Santa’s Anonymous to go towards the food hampers,” said Bishop.

Anyone who donated at the till got to put an ornament on the tree displayed to recognize those who contributed.

They also got to drop the Plinko Puck. Depending on where the puck landed, that told what percentage of their donation would be matched by Co-op. It could match up to 30 per cent. 

Residents were given the opportunity to drop a new toy into a donation box at any Elk Point business, donate to the Co-op when they purchased groceries, and clip a new toque, pair of mitts or pair of socks to the Christmas tree at Servus Credit Union or ATB. 

Names went on a list of people who would benefit from getting a hamper on December 13th and 14th by contacting Family and Community Support Services (FCSS). 

“Cash donations went towards toys for kids, because the Co-op accepted donations and then put them towards our credit for our groceries, those donations did cover all of our groceries,” said Bishop.

“We had about 39, we say families, but sometimes it is just a single person, so 39 clients. That is down from other years, which is good news, fewer people in need.”

The hampers given this year were different due to the way the fundraiser was held. This way people could get stuff that would better suit them individually. 

“We gave people cards from Co-op so that they could spend them on the groceries that they needed, which means our hampers had fewer goods because we didn’t collect physical food. People have the choice of how they were going to spend that gift card,” said Bishop.

“Some toys are held for next year, some toques we’ve given to Victim Services so that they can give it to families that will use them, as well as helping hands which is a food bank that Elk Point has.” 

Other toy donations were provided by the Elk Point Elementary School and Victim Services.