Helping Hands of Grande Prairie wants to make sure families have a good Christmas this year. The group will be accepting applications for families in need and applications for people looking to sponsor those families until December 1st.
Nicole Bruin with Helping Hands says they already have over 100 families and individuals from all age groups signed up.
“We help individuals ranging from families, we’ve helped some seniors out and we also have young couples just starting out that are having a hard go of it… There’s probably 110 applications filled out so far and I believe 96 of those have sponsors.”
Helping hands started the sponsorship program a few years ago with the goal of helping everyone regardless of their situation. This is the first year the group has run the program full time. When a family signs up, Bruin says they all sit down and make a list.
“It’s something they need, something to wear and something they want. The biggest number one asked for thing is grocery gift cards. Groceries are a huge thing for people as well as clothing.”
That family is then sponsored by a community member or a business who will purchase those items. Bruin says they usually sit down with the person and match them with a family based on their budget.
“When somebody wants to sponsor someone they should probably be aware; groceries, clothing, a few toys, gift cards. Some just want to cover the Christmas dinner which is usually about $100 they donate and some just want to do gifts, you know the fun part.”
Anyone looking to apply to received a Christmas hamper or to sponsor a family can get in touch with the group through Facebook, by email at [email protected] or in person at Tracy’s Treasures Repurposed Furniture on 100 Street.