You don’t have to look far into Coast Reporter’s pages this week to find stories and photos of people in the Christmas spirit, giving money, food, quilts and more to those in need.
On page 5 we see the Elves Club received two record donations in one day on Dec. 5 thanks to a stellar boot drive effort from the Gibsons Fire Department and an amazing Elves Club Telethon.
Those two efforts alone resulted in $24,000 for the Elves Club, which is tasked with taking groceries (including Christmas dinner with all the fixings) and gifts to Coasters in need on Dec. 19.
Add to the money the seven truckloads of toys donated at the Blackfish Pub toy drive, as well as the hundreds of gifts dropped off at the depot, and we can be confident no one need wake up to an empty fridge or tree devoid of presents on Christmas morning.
On page 17 this week we see practical handmade presents (beautiful patchwork quilts) are on their way to the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, courtesy of the quilters at St. John’s United Church, so those in need can have a warm blanket of their own, stitched together with love.
And on pages 18 and 27 we see but a fraction of the donations to the Sunshine Coast Food Bank that have taken place over the last few weeks. Co-producers of VegFest donated $500 worth of plant-based foods, the Coasters Car Club donated food and $537 raised through a raffle, and the Sunshine Coast Credit Union gave $500.
It’s incredibly heart-warming to see so many examples of the Christmas spirit being spread throughout the Coast and even the Lower Mainland, but what will happen to that giving mindset after the Christmas season is over?
The Sunshine Coast Food Bank, for example, gives out over 1,100 bags of food to hungry Coasters each month, and that need continues throughout the year.
The community tends to give in abundance to the food bank between November and January, and that abundance typically lasts until February, maybe March, but come April and May donations nearly dry up.
The giving kicks back in when gardens start growing, but the food bank dreads that April/May slump when donations don’t fill the need.
So, while we’re doling out praise this week, we leave you with a gentle reminder that hunger doesn’t end on Dec. 31. Perhaps we need to resurrect a little Christmas spirit in the spring.
