It is a Christmas tradition for several local correctional facilities.
They gather every December with the help of the St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church to make Christmas hampers for the less fortunate.
Wally Disiewich, director of the Prince Albert Correctional Centre, has been involved for five years.
He said he keeps coming back because he enjoys it so much.
“It really is a good feeling. Certainly there are a lot of needy families, in partnership with Riverside School they have identified people who are in need are and we have been fortunate enough to raise money,” he said.
The Prince Albert Community Training Residence and Pine Grove Correctional Centre workers were also on hand.
He said they do raffles and bake sales to raise money to fill the Christmas hampers.
“It’s incredible the amount of work, not only the corrections staff who do the delivering on this day, but also buying all the products, putting all the hampers together,” he said.
It is their 12th year working with the church and school. It is also their biggest year, said Jerry Jarvis, a corrections worker.
He said they raised a total of $4,645 and are delivering hampers to 78 families.
The inmates pitched in $563, Jarvis said.
He said corrections workers keep coming back every year to help.
The hampers are “all inclusive,” filled with milk, bread, “Christmas fixings” and toys for the kids, Disiewich said
“It’s a great time of year,” he said.
“We look forward to helping out every year.”
The corrections officers spent Tuesday afternoon delivery the hampers.
klavoie@panow.com
