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Mayor makes plea to help less fortunate |
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Written by Sherri Gallant LETHBRIDGE HERALD
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Monday, November 23 2009, 7:54 PM |
Mayor Bob Tarleck urged city residents Monday to remember the less fortunate this Christmas and give generously to the Salvation Army and the city’s food banks.
The mayor — with a little help from two tiny friends — lit the two-storey Christmas tree in city hall’s atrium, but reminded those present to think about those who cannot afford a hearty yuletide meal, let alone such festive decorations.
“We had staff in here this weekend to get things ready so we could do the official lighting of the tree today,” said Tarleck, enlisting the help of four-year-old Mayako Setta and her sister Sayuri, 21-months. The children had come to city hall with their mother Andrea to visit their dad, Tats, when the mayor conscripted them to be part of the festivities.
“Christmas is a time of celebration and a time for family and a time for joy, but it’s also a time for us to remember those who aren’t quite as fortunate as we are, and that’s why every year we select charities to receive donations from us. This year it will be the Salvation Army’s Toys for Tots program, and the Lethbridge Food Bank,” the mayor explained.
Mandy DeCecco-Kolebaba, executive director of the Lethbridge Food Bank, said her organization will work together with Interfaith Food Bank and the Salvation Army to assemble hampers for families that include toys to brighten Christmas for youngsters 12 and under.
“We’ll be serving approximately 1,300 families,” she said.
“This year we’re all working together to co-ordinate and do identical hampers, so no matter where families go they’ll get exactly the same thing. And Salvation Army will co-ordinate what toys our clients get. We need Christmas hamper items - stuffing mix, gravy mix, cranberry sauce - those things to make the hamper more special.”
The website www.christmashope.ca provides more detail on the holiday effort. Cash donations to any of the participating groups are always appreciated, as well, organizers said.
“For every dollar donated, we can stretch it to three or four dollars, with our bulk purchasing,” DeCecco-Kolebaba said.
The Salvation Army’s Debbie Bakker and Major Brian Beveridge said the past year has spelled a huge increase in demand for their services.
“We’ve seen a 30 per cent increase in clients asking for food,” Beveridge said. “So we would expect an equivalent number of applications for toys.”
Bakker said almost 900 children received toy hampers last year. Those who wish to help can bring unwrapped new toys to city hall, Park Place Mall, Centre Village Mall, Peavey Mart, Toys R Us, radio stations and the Salvation Army’s Family Services location, 1811 2 Ave. N.
At the beginning of December, daily noon-hour events and entertainment will take place in the atrium. A schedule will appear in the Herald when complete.
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