Prince Albert Raiders forward Harrison Lodewyk helps load the Mont. St. Joe's van. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW staff)

By Susan McNeil

Christmas hampers

Raiders help fill food bank bins, PAGC won’t donate hampers this year

Dec 7, 2024 | 10:00 AM

Prince Albert’s food bank is facing another demanding Christmas season and, once again, the Raiders are doing their part to help out.

Recently the hockey team, in partnership with Mont. St. Joseph home, held what it says was its biggest food drive to date.

Kim Scruby, executive director of the food bank, said the 2,000 pounds of food brought in by the Raiders are welcome, especially given higher demand for their services.

“We’re definitely noticing an increase, but you know, thanks to the community support, you know, like the Raiders the other night and you know the folks who donated there were we’re keeping up.”

When he first started with the food bank in 2017, they gave out 700 hampers per month that would feed three people, one being a child.

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Now, they average 1,250 per month and have gone as high as 1,400.

(Submitted/ Mont. St. Joseph Foundation)

Recently, the Prince Albert Grand Council confirmed they would not be doing Christmas hampers this year but did not elaborate on why.

The food bank does not provide turkeys and hams for holiday dinners. Scruby estimated that would cost $200 to $300,000 alone.

They do keep aside holiday-themed foods such as cranberry sauce and stuffing and give it out during the Christmas season.

Fortunately for the food bank, as demand has grown so have donations. Schools, churches and other groups often hold drives that the food bank is not even aware of until they get the call the donation is coming in.

Food bank staff estimate they will see a little spillover from the lack of PAGC hampers. Last year, those hampers numbered 3,600.

Scruby said a number of local churches have hamper programs but he did not have a list of who is offering what.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com