A sense of community abounds in Campbell River.
So says Kevin Gearey, spokesman for the Knights of Columbus, as he reflects on this year’s Christmas Hamper Fund, held this past Saturday, Dec. 18.
On the heels of its 48th consecutive year, the annual event brings together locals and holiday cheer as the Knights distribute hampers stuffed with goods for Christmas Day and beyond.
Over 1,100 hampers were delivered this year to families and individuals needing an extra helping hand. And it’s all thanks to a plethora of volunteers and donors.
In the weeks prior, people donated food and gifts, and the day of, volunteers worked the assembly line at the former Target building as drivers lined up out front.
“It’s typical of the Campbell River community in any effort, whether it’s the Hamper Fund or anything at all, they come out and perform spectacularly. They get the job done,” Gearey says.
“We’re very thankful. Without the volunteers coming out to do the job, whether building the hampers or delivering them, this thing does not happen.”
Gearey says around 50 or so volunteers worked at the Target itself, shopping around with carts and filling each hamper to meet the needs of each recipient.
But that’s scaled back from previous years due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, he explains.
“Because of COVID, it’s a completely different game,” Gearey tells My Campbell River Now. “In a normal year, we’d have families come out. The kids would be shopping with their parents. That’s always an incredible thing to see too.”
According to Gearey, supply chain issues also posed a problem this year. He says the Knights order the necessary groceries in October from a local store that gets its products from Abbotsford.
“The federal government came in and took part of our order and used it for the people who were flooded out. This store had to go back and rebuild our entire order, which was kind of scary.”
Plus, he’s pointing to another challenge: Saturday morning’s snowfall.
“There were some instances during the day that were a little bit scary because of the weather,” Gearey explains. “We were short on drivers to deliver the hampers, but once 99.7 The River got the word out, the problem was dissolved.”
In fact, The River’s morning show host, Rickie Tyler, helped with deliveries. She sums up her experience as “unforgettable.”
“Going out and delivering hampers to people was just such a rewarding experience,” Tyler says. “To see people’s faces lighting up when you knocked on the door, to know that you’re making a difference in people’s lives and brightening their Christmas is just the most incredible experience.”
Looking ahead to 2022, the Knights of Columbus aren’t slowing down. “We start planning for the coming year in January,” Gearey adds.
“We’re always trying to improve. We know that there is perhaps an area here or there where we could have done it differently.”
