As the final bell tolled on this year’s Knights of Columbus Hamper Fund effort, the people of Campbell River came through once again.
The community came out in force on Saturday to help assemble and deliver hampers to the less fortunate in our city.
Inside the hamper depot, which was located in the building behind Perk’s Donuts, volunteers bustled around, stopping with their shopping carts at each station to collect canned goods, vegetables, cheese and other staples.
Once their carts were full, the shoppers dropped all of the items off and that were sent along a conveyor belt to be prepared for loading.
Outside, more volunteers were waiting with their vehicles to deliver the hampers.
Kevin Gearey, who sits on the Hamper Fund committee, said the Knights of Columbus this year filled 1,158 Christmas hampers – down slightly from last year’s request for 1,190 hampers.
“We did very, very well,” Gearey says of this year’s effort, which can be attributed to a last minute rally.
Early last week, with delivery day quickly approaching, donations were down. As reported in the Mirror on Dec. 14, three days prior to delivery day, the fund had reached just 62 per cent of its goal. But in the days following, Gearey said the community really came through, better than ever before.
“On the Friday (the day before delivery day), it was the best day ever in terms of Hamper Fund history,” Gearey says. “It was incredible.
“We were able to meet all of our obligations, plus a little bit of that we’ll be able to use for seed money for next year.”
Hamper volunteers sort and load hampers for delivery last Saturday:
