A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place outside the offices of the Christmas Sharing Program to mark 57 years of operation.
Christmas Sharing is a registered charity that is funded through the community and helps families in need with the extra cost of food during the holiday season.
“It’s an incredible way to give back and help a family that is in financial need for food on the table, especially at Christmas,” program coordinator with Christmas Sharing, Hazel Lloyst, tells Quinte News.
Lloyst explained how the program tries to reach individuals.
“We put an ask out to the community,” she said.
“We also offer the opportunity that if there is a church, a school service club, or an organization or an individual or business that actually wants to (help), we give them a grocery list, which we feel is what should be in a food hamper for Christmas, they can go out and purchase all of it, and then we’ll match them up with a family and deliver it to them.”
Last year, Christmas Sharing said 1,353 applications were received, representing 3,153 adults and children who were able to have a Christmas meal.
“We had about 500 hampers delivered last year, but we had over 1300 applications. So those that don’t have the food hamper, we give them the equivalent dollar value for FreshCo. grocery gift cards,” Lloyst tells Quinte News.
Lloyst says there is a process to who can be approved.
“So we ask for a permanent address, they must have that. We ask for their income level, they have to show that for everyone in the home that has an income. We also have photo ID for each and every person as well. Then we go by the tables of what is a low income base,” Lloyst explained.
“It’s very seldom that we have someone that goes above that level. Literally, everyone that comes in has that need.”
With ongoing discussion about food insecurity, Lloyst says demand for the service continues to grow.
“The thing we noticed last year is more adult children are moving back home because they can’t find accommodations,” Lloyst said.
“So we’re now having a larger number of families. We had a family as high as 10 (people), but the normal size is three to five and six (people).”
In-person registration for the meals begins Monday, November 4 and runs until Friday, November 29.
The in-person registration will be on the second floor of Century Place at 199 Front Street between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on those days.
Those looking to donate can do so either by mail to PO Box 22056 Belleville, ON K8N 5V7, or in person.
Donations can also be done online at canadahelps.org.
More information about the Christmas Sharing Program can be found at their website.
Belleville Mayor Neil Ellis speaking with Hazel Lloyst with Christmas Sharing Program. October 10, 2024. (Photo: Zach McGibbon/Quinte News)
