It’s a record Tom Cameron and the rest of the volunteers with the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Christmas Hamper Society hope they don’t break.
But year after year, the number of families in need of support at Christmas seems to increase, and this year was no exception.
This year, 640 local families came to the hamper society for help.
That’s up from 609 families last year, and a 50 per cent increase from 2007’s total of 431.
Cameron say he fears it’s a consequence of tougher economic times.
“We’re seeing a lot more whole families, with a husband and a wife,” he said. “It used to be just single-parent families, but lately there have been more two-parent families that are facing layoffs and in a difficult situation, and have limited means.”
Cameron has been a volunteer with the hamper society for more than 15 years, and hopes one day his services won’t be needed.
“Every single one of us wants to be here and loves the work we do, but we would love to not have to do this,” says Cameron. “We’d love it if there wasn’t a need.”
This biggest donor this year to the hamper society was once again the Haney Hotel, which raised more than $22,000. The B.C. Empty Stocking Fund contributed $10,000, while the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau helped provide $10,000 to $15,000 worth of toys.
Local schools helped raise more than $6,000 through a district-wide coin drive.
Every dollar and every toy donation helps, says Cameron. And as the need for the hamper society’s services has increased, so too has the support from the community continue to grow.
“There’s hundreds and hundreds who take part,” says Cameron. “From the firefighters to the school choirs, local service organizations, and everyone down here [at the hamper society headquarters at the Albion Fairgrounds], I couldn’t even put a number on it.
“Everyone in town gets behind us.”