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Christmas Hampers

Sharing The Gifts Of Food And Hope With Those In Need

House of Friendship's annual Christmas Hamper program operates annually in December. It is coordinated through the Christmas Bureau. In 2009 over 550 volunteers sorted, packed and delivered 3,620 Christmas food hampers. Many other people donated food and cash.

Last year, the progam was again housed at the NCR building at the corner of Northfield and Weber in Waterloo, where Operation Christmas Child was also located. About 40 percent of the food used in this project is provided by the Food Bank of Waterloo Region through their community food drives. Another 20 percent will be donated directly by community groups and individuals. For example, in 2009 Rockway Mennonite Collegiate contibuted the equivalent of more than 24,000 cans of food through their annual Christmas Food Drive. The balance of the food is purchased.

Thanks to the Kitchener-Conestoga Rotary Club for officially sponsoring House of Friendship's Christmas Hamper Program as one of its charitable projects and for continuing its wildly successful Turkey Drive, which enables us to include turkeys in Christmas Hampers, and share the gifts of food and hope with local families.

The 2009 Turkey Drive raised over $185,000 to fund food for 3,620 Christmas Hampers and 3,000 turkeys that fed 9,565 people! Any surplus funds are used to purchase food items for House of Friendship's Emergency Food Hamper program, which provides emergency food assistance year-round. House of Friendship thanks the Kitchener Conestoga Rotary Club for their tremendous support and everyone who supported the Turkey Drive.

For more information about the Christmas Hamper Program please contact Tony Bender, Community Services Program Director at 519-742-8327 or volunteering@houseoffriendship.org.