To the Editor,
Hamperville is always a busy place, and 2012 was no exception.
Volunteers were plentiful, enthusiasm was high, and the community of Nanaimo came through again with flying colours.
Thanks to the generous donations of food and money we received this year, our more than 400 volunteers were able to issue 2,160 full Christmas hampers to 3,050 adults and 1,761 children in Nanaimo.
Money raised through donations was in excess of $38,000, which was enough to buy approximately 7,000 kilograms of food. We also received 57,200 kg of donated food.
We now are able to return enough food to the Salvation Army and Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank to feed people into January and February.
Special thanks must go to Laird Wheaton GM , Big Boys Toys, St. Jeans Cannery, our community grocers and all other major group and corporate sponsors who are too plentiful to mention.
Thanks as well to the many businesses which helped us out with services, food drives and cash donations, and to our army of volunteers who worked tirelessly to gather, sort, bag and distribute food, in addition to registering recipients, driving vehicles, answering phones and making and serving refreshments.
And a special thank you to every individual and family in the Nanaimo area which came forward this year to help out their neighbours in need.
Without their care and assistance, the Christmas Hamper Program would not exist.
Alex Guy
Hamperville