Volunteer-driven Sundre Santas a success

The hard work of Sundre Santas volunteers who have been busy since September has come to fruition.

"Everything is aligning up great," said Cherie Johnson, Greenwood Neighbourhood Place family and youth coordinator.

The annual program, which was formerly known as Sundre Santas Anonymous, winds up tomorrow (Wednesday, Dec. 14) when volunteers will distribute the last hampers. Aside from the program's new name, the only other change this year was to include written applications after a family was referred, she said.

"You can still refer a person to the program, but they have to fill out an application."

The goal behind the written application is not to screen people, but rather to get a clearer picture of what their needs are to better be able to personalize requests. Additionally, the new method made obtaining that information far easier than attempting to do so by phone, when details can be overlooked during a conversation, she said.

As in previous years, numerous residents as well as local groups, organizations and businesses collectively contributed towards making the program so successful, she said.

"It's really a community program. It really is the community as a whole that has come together to fundraise and donate and dedicate their time."

Although it is Johnson's first time coordinating the program, she told the Round Up last week that the volunteers she has worked with seem impressed by the community's response as well as the donations received as compared with other years.

"We've really been fortunate that we've at least been able to fulfil the program's goals with donations — we're right where we need to be."

When a call is put out to the community, people respond, she said.

"Everybody comes together."

Citing as an example the annual Charity Checkstop — which was rescheduled with little notice to Wednesday, Dec. 14 from Friday, Dec. 9 because of cold weather — Johnson said she was pleasantly surprised by the turnout.

"Considering it was such a last-minute decision, it still was very successful."

Almost $11,000 was raised during the event — despite the rescheduled mid-week date and the fact that the weather had not improved much, with volunteers including emergency responders enduring biting cold, she said, expressing unwavering gratitude to everyone who bundled up to bear through the frigid temperatures for a good cause.

"It was very cold and the volunteers all stuck it out until the end."

Organizers also prepared two Magic of Christmas shopping sessions for children to have a chance to find gifts for their families from a selection of community donations of gently used items, none of which were priced more than $2, she said.

"That was a really big hit for the kids — some didn't let their parents in because they wanted it to be a surprise!"

Seeing the smiles on the children's faces with their arms loaded with gifts made the effort worthwhile, she said.

Although Sundre Santas is now in its final two days, anyone who might be interested in helping to pack and deliver the remaining hampers is welcome to drop by the Sundre Santas workshop, located in the office adjacent to the Sundre Fire Department's hall. Without the commitment of community members, Sundre Santas would have never gotten off the ground, she said. This year, 116 hampers were prepared to provide some help to almost 300 people, she added.

"We've had a lot of past and new volunteers come in. Honestly, this program would not be going without the volunteers. This is volunteer-driven."

Although this was her first time coordinating Sundre Santas, Johnson said her colleagues at Greenwood Neighbourhood Place greatly facilitated her effort.

"There's so much involved with this program and it just doesn't happen by myself."

She looks forward to carrying the experience she gained this year over to next year.

"I won't feel like the new kid! This year was great, but always when you do something a second time, you're that much better at it."