Erin Haluschak
Record Staff
Staff at Coast Realty Group have the lines open for their annual Christmas hamper program.
“We usually fill up our list for hampers during the first three weeks in November,” explained co-ordinator Annette Bowden, who added this is the 26th year the program will be operating.
“The hampers come with the complete food for a Christmas dinner and leftovers, and gifts for kids.”
She noted they are aiming to fill and distribute around 600 hampers to Comox Valley families this year. Last year, they distributed 580 hampers, down slightly from the previous year of 630.
Bowden said individuals can call or drop by their office in Courtenay to register themselves or someone/a family for a hamper at 625 England Ave. or at 250-897-3999.
The process is completely anonymous, added Bowden, but they need to know the size of the family, a description (how many children) and an address to deliver the hamper.
There is an extensive list which includes perishable and non-perishable items, and encourages individuals, companies and schools to sponsor hampers or aid with distribution in December.
Bowden said more than 250 families get sponsored out by schools in the Valley, and added most of the hampers get assigned by the third week of November.
“We do have to turn away (registrations), but the Salvation Army also does hampers, and we do a cross-check to make sure a person isn’t registered on both lists,” she noted.
For more information on volunteering for the program, call Coast Realty Group’s hamper hotline at 250-897-3999. photos@comoxvalleyrecord.com