Service club volunteers were hard at work this week at a warehouse in East Delta, sorting food hampers destined for local lowincome families.
"We have the same people here. They're here year after year," says George Koka, a Ladner Legion member and a longtime volunteer organizer for Deltassist's annual Christmas hamper program. "We've got great help. The volunteers, they're just awesome."
About 580 families will receive hampers this year, he estimates.
Delta schools donate plenty of food while volunteers purchase the rest.
"The schools that participated did a wonderful job," Koka says.
Fellow Ladner Legion member Brian Rainbow has been involved with the hamper program for at least 20 years.
"I just like doing it. I'm retired, healthy and I can do it," he says. "It's a good feeling."
Leftover food will go to the food bank.
Volunteers will be out delivering the hampers on Christmas Eve.
Deltassist community services co-ordinator Carly Geistlinger notes service club volunteers are an integral part of the Christmas hamper program.
"We're very fortunate in this community to have the service clubs stand together to make this program happen," she says.
"Without them I honestly don't know how we would get about 600 hampers delivered to all of the families."
Feedback from clients about the volunteers is very positive, she adds.
"They do an amazing job for us, an amazing job for our clients."
DONATIONS RECEIVED FROM:
- Paridon Horticultural Ltd. (use of warehouse)
- Norampac (1,200 boxes)
- Schools that collected canned goods
- Bates Brothers (use of a five-ton truck)
- Lions Gate Fisheries (totes)
- Felix Farms, Bates Bros. Farm, Emma Lea Farms, Brent Kelly Farm, Rod Burr Farm, Rod Swenson Farms, John Gourley Farms
FOOD PURCHASED AT COST FROM:
- London Drugs
- Thrifty Foods - Save-On-Foods
- Budget Foods
MONETARY DONATIONS FROM:
- Deltassist
- Elks Club
- Ladner/Tsawwassen Kinsmen
- Ladner/Tsawwassen Kiwanis
- Ladner/Tsawwassen Legion
- Ladner/North Delta/ Tsawwassen Boundary Bay/ Scottsdale Lions
- Ladner/North Delta/ Tsawwassen Rotary
- TOOBs
- Ladies' Ladner Aux. Br. 61
- South Delta Baptist Church
- Tsawwassen United Church
dwillis@delta-optimist.com
