The Christmas holidays can be a joyous time of year, but they can also be one of the most stressful times for those barely managing to get by.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 why Gayle Ireland and a group of like-minded volunteers banded together in 1988 to create what would become the Westshore Christmas Hamper Fund.

B次元官网网址淚t was our way of making sure that Christmas was a time when people who were struggling could still share the holiday with the rest of us B次元官网网址� and do it with dignity and respect,B次元官网网址� said Ireland, president of that group and the Goldstream Food Bank.

Thanks to the generosity of people on the West Shore and the work done by volunteers, 2014 was a banner year for the hamper program, she said. B次元官网网址淲e managed to provide 673 hampers this year. ThatB次元官网网址檚 673 households that had a happy Christmas because of the communityB次元官网网址檚 care and generosity.B次元官网网址�

The organizing began in September and the last hamper was delivered on New YearB次元官网网址檚 Day, Ireland said.

Aside from the volunteers at the food bank facilities below the Langford Legion, the program was helped by a host of other people and events that raised money for the hamper fund.

Among those was the Fleet Diving UnitB次元官网网址檚 annual , which, despite a major format change, brought in enough money to provide a turkey voucher for every household receiving a hamper.

B次元官网网址淲e also got a lot of support from local businesses,B次元官网网址� said Paul Patrick, the hamper programB次元官网网址檚 vice-president and treasurer. B次元官网网址淟ocal businesses like West Shore Towing gave us very generous donations B次元官网网址� and Santas Anonymous sent over a whole truckload of toys.B次元官网网址�

Those toys made it possible for parents with children to make sure their little ones had a gift under the tree come Christmas morning. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 especially hard on children. They donB次元官网网址檛 understand why other kids are getting presents and they have nothing. We made sure that didnB次元官网网址檛 happen,B次元官网网址� Ireland said.

Toys were arranged on shelves and parents receiving hampers were given the opportunity to select items that best suited their children, she said.

B次元官网网址淭hey know what their little one asked Santa for. I can tell you that some of those parents left here with tears in their eyes B次元官网网址� they were just so relieved. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the most heartwarming thing.B次元官网网址�

Older children werenB次元官网网址檛 forgotten, as parents were given gift cards so their teenB次元官网网址檚 Christmas was a little more special as well.

Carol Meikle, the fundB次元官网网址檚 office manager, stressed that none of this generosity would have been possible without the energy and giving spirit of the programB次元官网网址檚 volunteers.

B次元官网网址淭hose people were just amazing. TheyB次元官网网址檙e doing work that is pretty simple B次元官网网址� sometimes repetitive, like packing boxes and stocking shelves B次元官网网址� but without them we couldnB次元官网网址檛 do any of this,B次元官网网址� she said.

With the Christmas Hamper Fund complete for another year, the Goldstream Food Bank will once again become operational.

B次元官网网址淯nfortunately, hunger isnB次元官网网址檛 seasonal,B次元官网网址� Patrick said. B次元官网网址淥ver Christmas people are very generous B次元官网网址� amazingly so B次元官网网址� and right now we have a good stock of food. But the need is so great that I know by the end of January a lot of those shelves will be empty again.B次元官网网址�

Ireland is confident that people will come through to keep the food bank providing staples for those in need. B次元官网网址淧eople on the West Shore are amazing, so generous. I know that theyB次元官网网址檒l be there for us, and weB次元官网网址檒l be there for the people who need some help.B次元官网网址�

editor@goldstreamgazette.com