The Kettle River Lion’s Club is about to wrap up its annual Christmas hamper drive this Saturday with the delivery of over 100 boxes of food and other items to those West Boundary families and individuals in need.
Organizer Phil Gunhouse was pleased by the public’s generous response in helping the Lions fill the hampers with non-perishable goods to complement the club’s contribution of everything needed for a traditional Christmas feast, including hams, potatoes, carrots, onions and some dessert items as well.
He did, however, lament the decrease in the Kelowna Food Bank’s (KFB) usual contribution to the hamper drive—the result, he suggested, of increased demand, seemingly throughout the province. KFB will, nevertheless, still be donating several boxes of vegetables, including a large quantity of baby red potatoes, which the Lions will package themselves in boxes donated by Calona Wines.
Gunhouse was thrilled to report that Osoyoos’ AG Foods had “really stepped up” this year, by offering to sell the Lion’s Club produce for the hampers at wholesale prices, which will likely save the club several hundred dollars. The hamper drive is the club’s most financially-demanding undertaking, making gestures such as that of AG Foods and manager Derek Morgan especially valuable.
“We like to have money left over at Christmas so that we are in a position to help folks with unexpected needs,” said Gunhouse, “such as help with transportation to Kelowna for cancer treatment, or even car repairs. This makes the generosity of stores like AG Foods even more timely.”
The hampers go out on Saturday morning, as a convoy of club members will be delivering the much welcomed Christmas donation to all corners of the West Boundary.