While it was initially cancelled, the 50th Knights of Columbus Christmas Hamper Fund is back on after finding a new location.
According to organizer Kevin Geary, they initially could not find a place for the food to be delivered after the first building they had in mind would not be ready in time. A meeting was held shortly after, leading to the fund’s cancellation.
However, word got around on social media that the hamper fund had been cancelled and Geary says that made its way to a young lady who knew about an available space.
“A young lady had seen the outcry that the cancellation had provoked on Facebook,” said Geary. “We went to look at the building, which is in behind the Nissan service department on Meredith Road.
“We looked at the building, walked around and it is perfect.”
Geary says the building was available earlier in the year, but a deal was struck with a local realtor and it was not available. However, the young lady knew that the deal had fallen through, opening the doors to use it for the hamper fund.
He adds the whole experience unveiled a new side of Campbell River he did not know about, and how important the hamper fund is to the community.
“Some people were actually depressed that it had been cancelled. It’s not only the people who receive hampers that went to social media, but it was also people who donated, people who build the hampers,” said Geary.
“It was across the board, it was at every level where people made the comments. It was widespread, small city, big heart.”
The Knights are now gearing up for the fund, which will see over $120,000 in groceries and other donated items given out to the community.
Geary says the hamper request forms will go out after Remembrance Day, and can be picked up at the Income Assistance Ministry behind Save-On-Foods, and the other at the food bank when it is open.
They have the goal of filling 1,075 hampers this year.
