Christmas spirit spreads through local campaign

Local campaign Wrapped up for the Holidays kicked off its fifth year on Tuesday. 

As a partnership between Parkland Ambulance, the Gateway Mall and CTV Prince Albert, the campaign encourages the public to drop off clean blankets at any of their drop off locations throughout the city.  As a new addition this year, coats will also be collected.

“The demand has been there and people have asked us for that so we’re happy to provide that,” said Lyle Karasiuk with Parkland Ambulance. 

The donations will be distributed to numerous agencies in and around the Prince Albert area during the second week of January. 

“We’ve got them going to Children’s Haven, to the YWCA, to the emergency shelter for women, some of our local church groups also use them as they have people that come in to see them,” said Karasiuk. 

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Karasiuk said over the past few years, about 350 blankets have been collected annually.  Almost 400 blankets were donated last year and Karasiuk said they hope to surpass that number this year. 

“I think if we could do that many, we’d be just awe inspired and so would the local charities and groups who are going to receive the blankets because they can always use them here for people in our community,” he said.

Karasiuk said people are also able to donate funds to the campaign if they don’t have any blankets or coats. 

“We have a mechanism through one of our local charities to use that appropriately and we’d be happy to receive it,” he said.

Sharon Faul with the Gateway Mall said Wrapped up for the Holidays is always a successful initiative for them to participate in. 

“This is an easy and convenient promotion for the community to take part in,” she said.  “We have a convenient location for them to drop off the blankets at and it’s easily accessible and folks can easily participate in it.”

She said since the beginning of the campaign, people have always happy to support the cause.    

“It goes to so many great worthwhile organizations in and around Prince Albert and it’s a great way for people to participate in the season of giving,” she said.  “There are a lot [of donations].  I have to call Lyle frequently throughout the promotion to let him know that we need to come and empty the bin ‘cause it’s starting to overflow. “

People were ready to donate their blankets long before the campaign’s official start date on Tuesday. 

“People ask for it,” said Faul.  “We’ve been fielding calls actually for a few weeks now asking when the bin was going to be put up in the mall ‘cause they have donations that they’re ready to bring down.”

The drop off locations are at either of Parkland Ambulance’s two locations, in front of the food court at the Gateway Mall or at CTV Prince Albert.

“It’s just a great community project and we’re happy to support it and make a lot of people a lot warmer this Christmas season,” said Karasiuk. 

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