She said she'll probably do 25 years.
Diane Greenwood opened the Good Cheer campaign this year for the 24th time.
No one is really sure exactly how many years the community has been filling Good Cheer hampers, but Greenwood remembers, as a child, the first time she donated and that was sometime mid-1950s.
“I think it’s safe to say more than 55 years,” she said with a smile.
“It was started by local businesses who saw a need and began giving out hampers of food.”
And that need has grown in the 24 years Greenwood has been the coordinator (she volunteered for several years before that, as well.)
Back in 1988, the program distributed between 300 – 400 hampers, Greenwood said.
“Last year 803 households received Good Cheer,” she said.
“In all the years I’ve been coordinator, the numbers have never gone down, they’ve only gone up.”
There’s already a little bit on the shelves in the Maple Park Mall depot (former Zellers store) and Greenwood said despite the shortened time frame – hampers are handed out Dec. 17 – 18 – she’s confident they’ll get everything done.
But much more quickly, names are added to the list. By end of Wednesday Greenwood expects they’ll hit 200.
Every donation is vital to the success of Good Cheer. Together with the non-perishables and the toys which are donated, Greenwood needs to spend at least as much as last year, $52,000 on ensuring there’s a turkey and potatoes in every family hamper and, if funds permit, a gift card for the single recipients.
“That’s barely $60 for a family, we desperately need the other donations to stretch the hamper beyond the one meal,” Greenwood said.
She says, each year, she prays the community will be as generous as the year before, so she and her fellow volunteers can again provide Good Cheer to those who need it.
However, she admits to one disheartening aspect to this time of year.
“It’s the few who choose to abuse the generosity of the community,” she said.
“We do everything in our power to stop this type of abuse and it hurts to think the abusers get pleasure out of doing this.
“Fortunately they’re in the extreme minority.”
Greenwood did have one request.
“Anyone who’s notified they’re receiving a hamper elsewhere, it would be wonderful if they’d notify us,” she said.
“That would go a long way towards stopping the double dipping.”
Greenwood said one of the Good Cheer goals is to find those people who really need the help, but for whatever reason, don’t come in and register.
“Everyone volunteering with Good Cheer has a heart of gold and will bend over backwards to help those invisible needy,” she said.
“If you know someone who would benefit from Good Cheer, reach out a helping hand, bring them in to register, let them know the service exists.”
Volunteers, well-identified with name tags, will be going door to door Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. collecting donations of cash or goods and Greenwood is hoping the community will dig deep.
Also at the Santa Parade on Saturday, they’ll have a truck collecting donations.
The Good Cheer depot is open Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sundays for donations or to register. They can be reached at 250-747-0065.