Sorting and distributing hundreds of food hampers throughout Delta is a big job but local volunteers are up to the task.
They were once again working out of the Paridon Horticultural Ltd. warehouse in East Delta as part of Deltassist's annual Christmas hamper program.
"It's gone well. We've had excellent help," says Brian Rainbow, one part of a three-person team from the Ladner Legion, including Bob Taggart and Phil Easdown, that coordinated the volunteer efforts.
Warehouse space was made available earlier this year due to the timing of schools being closed for winter break, he explains.
Food donations from local schools were at the warehouse by the start of Monday, he says.
"We also got in and were able to get the warehouse set up with the boxes, and everything laid out. We were really efficient this year," he says.
Service club members, families and students were among the volunteers, he notes.
Jeff Cruickshank, a firsttime volunteer with the program who also brought his 11-year-old granddaughter Sophie along, says he had a "great" experience.
"I'm just here to help," he says.
The retired police officer also says it was really encouraging to see youth getting involved with the program.
Deltassist's Lorraine Yates says service club volunteers run all over the place picking up food donations, put together the hampers and make financial contributions as well.
"They're behind the scenes all the time," she says.
In addition to the distributed hampers, there are also "sponsored hampers," she notes, adding those are brought in by sponsors and then picked up by the recipient family.
She noted 625 service club hampers were to be delivered on Christmas Eve and there were 85 sponsored hampers this year.
