​Kincardine Christmas Hamper Program becomes Children’s Christmas Campaign

The Kincardine Christmas Hamper Program was started in 1974 by a woman in Kincardine, who noticed that children were walking by her home without appropriate winter wear. She rallied her friends and they began collecting coats, mitts and toys for kids. That was 50 years ago!

Over those 50 years, the program has been expanded to include support for couples and individuals in need of help. It was particularly robust when Kincardine District Secondary School (now Kincardine District Senior School - KDSS) ran its “Christmas Knights” collection days from 1996 until the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020.

It was then that the program had to pivot to the collection of gift cards, or money to buy gift cards.

Since 2020, the need has risen and organizers have found themselves spreading your resources thinner and thinner. Unfortunately, there is still a real need to make Christmas better for kids in need.

“Therefore, we have made the difficult decision to limit the program this year to only families that have children up to the age of 18 living in their home,” said co-chairperson Heather Finnie. “We are re-branding the program to be Kincardine Community Services – Children’s Christmas Campaign. We feel that it is a better description of our new service.”

In order to receive a “gift card envelope,” a family must be referred to the program through a helping agency (food bank, social services, school, church, etc.). The Tiverton Lions Club and Ripley Lions Club have programs that cover their areas. If you aren’t sure which area you live in, feel free to contact the Kincardine hamper committee at 519-396-2001.

The plan is to have all the referrals in hand by Nov. 27 to give the volunteers time to put the gift card envelopes together.

To make this possible, there are three options for the collection of donations (the program is in charge of purchasing gift cards with all the financial donations):
 

1. Monetary donations, or gift cards to local businesses can be sent to treasurer Rhodora Doughty, Box 527, Kincardine, Ontario, N2Z 2Y1; cheques to be made payable to Kincardine Community Services Association. Receipts will be issued for any amount over $20.
2. Cash, cheques or gift cards/vouchers to local stores can be delivered to the Century 21 In-Studio Realty Inc. office, 801 Queen St., Kincardine (Monday to Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), from Nov. 18 to Dec. 4.
3. E-transfers can be sent to kincardinehampers@gmail.com. Please ensure your name and full mailing address are in the “message” section if you would like an income tax receipt.

If you have questions, contact Finnie or Linda Bowers, Co-chairpersons, Children’s Christmas Campaign, at 519-396-2001. Thank you, in advance, for your support.