This Christmas season the Santa Claus Fund will be operating out of its new permanent home in the Medicine Hat News building on Dunmore Road.--NEWS PHOTO KENDALL KING
kking@medicinehatnews.com
Santa Claus isn’t coming to town for another two-plus months yet, but his helpers at the Medicine Hat News Santa Claus Fund are already hard at work preparing for Christmas Day.
Operating in Medicine Hat for the past 36 years, the non-profit organization helps make Christmas magical for local families in need by providing children with gifts – including toys, stocking stuffers and vitality items – as well as providing their family a Holiday meal voucher.
“So many of our families are single parents or families that get by month-to-month, and when you throw Christmas into the mix the burden becomes too much,” executive director Deanna Doerksen told the News. “So that’s where we come in to lift them up.”
Operating on a voluntary intake basis, the SCF generally assists families with children aged 0-17 and who classify as ‘low-income’ under the federal Low Income Cut-Off scale.
Doerksen says need for the organization’s services has increased over the past five years, with the SCF reaching its highest number of families served in 2021.
“Last year, we served 741 families, (including) 1,452 children,” said Doerksen. “That was a record year for us. And we expect this year’s numbers will be similar if not greater than last year, just due to the economic climate, inflation, the cost of groceries, etc.”
In order to meet increased demand, Doerksen and her team are planning numerous fundraising events between now and December in the hopes of meeting their 2022 goal of $200,000. Events include the annual Santa Claus is Coming to Town Parade taking place Dec. 7-11; the Santa Claus Charity Auction on Dec. 8; the Steins for Santa community partnership fundraiser in collaboration with Medicine Hat Brewing Company, Hell’s Basement Brewery and the Medicine Hat Pottery Association, among others.
The SCF team also invites community members to show support through cash or material donations made during one of the numerous upcoming SCF toy drives, online donations, donations at local Scotiabank locations which will be matched up to $15,000, by hosting a private fundraiser in support of SCF, or by volunteering at SCF’s new permanent location in the Medicine Hat News building.
Doerksen is especially grateful for donations of items deemed ‘most needed,’ such as gifts for boys two and under, and ages 10-12, gifts for girls aged seven-12, books for teens and stocking-stuffer items like small activity and colouring books, socks, scarves, mittens, chocolate and candy and miniature toys.
“There’s lots of ways to get involved to help ensure that our local families experience the spirit of giving,” said Doerksen. “We want to keep the magic of Christmas alive in our community and make sure we’re bringing those families a message of hope for brighter days ahead.”
For more information on how to give, contact the SCF at giving@mhsantafund.com.
Intake for the 2022 Christmas season runs from Nov. 28 to Dev. 15. For information on intake, call 403-528-9900.
