Salvation Army reaches goal of feeding 300 Kamloops families for Christmas

KAMLOOPS — The Salvation Army officially reached its goal of putting together Christmas Hampers for Kamloops Families in need — and a long-time partnership with Kamloops Honda was a contributing factor.

Hampers will give local families a full Christmas dinner and extra food beyond the holidays, as well as gifts for households with children.

Volunteers from the Salvation Army picked up 81 Christmas Hampers at Kamloops Honda on Wednesday (Dec. 15) morning.

“The staff contribute from their paycheques every month and then at the end of the year the company matches it,” Troy Collinge said. “So we were able to donate almost $8,000 worth of goods this year.”

The hampers — or in this case, big laundry baskets — are overflowing with delicious goodies that should last each household for more than a week.

“There’s mandarin oranges, there’s stuffing mix. There’s a gift card so they can buy a turkey or a ham or some type of protein as well for their meal. Pancake syrup, pancake mixes — so a really good selection,” Collinge explained.

Kamloops Honda’s hampers will go toward the Salvation Army’s goal of feeding 300 households.

Captain Kelly Fifield says families are often overwhelmed with emotion when they pick them up.

“I often see that anxiety lifted off their shoulders because they come in and they don’t always know what they’re getting — and to be able to see it and know that they’re covered for Christmas, that they don’t have to worry about that — and it is like a little extra Christmas gift for them,” Captain Fifield told CFJC News.

Kamloops Honda has been putting these hampers together with the Salvation Army for 26 years.

Even though the dealership has a new owner, its employees wanted to continue the good cause.

“Its really important… that we give back to the community we all make our livings in. This is how we all make our livings, is in this business, so this way we can give back to those same people and the same communities that are helping us,” Collinge said.

The Salvation Army is putting together a separate group of Christmas Hampers for Merritt residents who were affected by the Coldwater River Flood.

Anyone interested in donating can drop off grocery gift cards or toys for children 18 years of age and under to the Kamloops Salvation Army.

The last day to drop off donations is Tuesday, Dec. 21.