Lindsay Chung
Observer Reporter
The co-ordinator of Quesnel Good Cheer is once again amazed by the support for the Christmas hamper campaign.
Dianne Greenwood says Good Cheer gave out 814 hampers this year, which is less than last year but back to where the numbers were two years ago.
“It was really busy, but very successful.”
Greenwood, who has been co-ordinator of the Good Cheer program for 26 years, noticed there were more young people registering for hampers this year.
She says they gave hampers to five or six young couples who had just moved to Quesnel from other provinces.
Greenwood adds they had about 40 volunteers come and go throughout the month of December.
“Some come in and do specific jobs and come in and leave, and then we get a crew on what we call our shopping days, and we have 40 people for those two days.”
She had no trouble finding volunteers.
“That’s never been a problem. I have trouble finding jobs.”
This year’s grocery bill for Good Cheer was $77,432, which Greenwood says is the biggest bill they’ve ever had.
“I went with last year’s numbers and ended up with too much food, but now I have a kick-start for this year.”
Greenwood says the money for groceries is mostly raised in Quesnel, but this year, they had two donations from unions and several private donations from individuals who used to live in Quesnel.
“It’s awesome, the support we get. Every year, it’s just amazing.
“I had a friend here from Calgary to see what Good Cheer is all about, and she couldn’t get over it. She said it was amazing watching the money come in and people come in and do their jobs and leave and then more people come in and do their jobs.”
The Good Cheer campaign typically gets underway at the beginning of December.
Greenwood says if the hampers need to go out around Dec. 16, they will usually start setting up the last week of November, but Good Cheer’s opening day is generally Dec. 1.
Maple Park Shopping Centre has been giving Good Cheer a base for the hamper campaign for many years.