By Sarah Rolles

Salvation Army prepping to give Christmas joy to those in need

Nov 12, 2015 | 4:05 PM

With the Christmas season just around the corner, the Salvation Army in Prince Albert is once again gearing up to begin their annual Christmas Hamper Campaign.

The Christmas hampers contain a variety of items including a gift certificate to purchase groceries and a few toys for families with young children. They are handed out each year, just before Christmas, to families in need.

Lieutenant Shawna Goulding with the Salvation Army said the hampers give families that extra bit of hope during the festive season.

Last year, 530 families received a hamper, which included 464 families with children under the age of 12.

“For many people at Christmas time, it seems to be more prevalent when people feel almost as if they have no hope or there is no hope out there for them,” said Goulding.  “So to experience Christmas with hope is certainly a gift that is priceless at the end of the day.

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“It makes complete sense for us to help those in need, especially at Christmas time, to not only physically experience the hope but hopefully in turn experience the hope that Christ can provide,” she added.

All the toys included in the hampers are donated. Goulding said bins for the toys will be set up around the city beginning Nov. 21.  Some of those locations will include Canadian Tire, South Hill Mall, Gateway mall, Sears, Walmart and Superstore.

The Salvation Army’s Kettle Campaign, which provides most of the funds for the gift certificates that are included in the hampers, is also set to begin soon, on Nov. 27. Goulding said there will be six kettles set up throughout the city until Christmas Eve.

Registration for the Christmas hampers will begin on Dec. 1 and continue until Dec. 3. Families can stop by the Salvation Army’s Place of Worship at 163 12 St. E between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on those days, to sign up for a hamper.

Goulding said the hampers will be assembled and ready for pick up the last week in December, just in time for Christmas.

“We try to have some larger type gifts for each child, usually a stuffed toy and some smaller gifts, stocking stuffer type things, so that there is something that can be under the tree for them at Christmas, or under the coffee table or whatever it might be,” said Goulding.

For more information on how to donate, or to have donations picked up, call the Salvation Army at 763-6078.

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