Volunteers at the Connection deliver bags to people this Christmas season (submitted photo)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Nominations now being accepted

The Connection Santa aims to spread encouragement to new Hatters this holiday season

Dec 19, 2021 | 10:22 AM

MEDICINE HAT AB- A local organization is looking to spread some extra kindness to people who need it most this Christmas season.

The Connection Intercultural Medicine Hat is now accepting nominations for its Connection Santa Program. The program was born during COVID-19 as a way to show people, especially newcomers to the city that people care.

“ I think each and every one of us needs a sense of belonging, and this initiative is so important because it is communicating to someone that moves to the community that you are welcome here, and that people in the community actually want you here, and they want you to know that they are not alone, and it is really important especially in these times where some people can’t even go back home to visit during the holidays,” said director of The Connection Yusuf Mohammed.

Nominations can be made on their website, and while it is geared for newcomers, the initiative is also open to people who just need a little extra support and encouragement.

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“ You can sense someone’s need just by how you interact with them so we are encouraging the community to pay attention to that, to pay attention to people who may need encouragement in their workplace, in their school wherever it is,” Mohammed said.

Once an individual is nominated, one of their 20 volunteers packs and delivers a Santa bag, and knocks on the person’s door and surprises them. The experience is not only rewarding to the person receiving the gift, but also for their volunteers.

“They feel like someone actually cares for them. Some of the reactions I have seen is they are surprised, like who nominated me? And I’m like I don’t know who nominated you I’m just the delivery boy here. But it is great to see their reaction and their smile on their face,” said volunteer Sandeep Sekhon.

“It makes me smile knowing we are making other people smile,” added volunteer Kristy Pomrenke.

Funding for the initiative was made possible through a Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta grant. Weddingstar also pitched in by donating bags for the items to go into, and Sweet Pure Honey supplied some of their products for the care packages.

Nominations can be made here. It is recommended to include a time when it is best to drop off the items. The Connection Santa hopes to deliver all the packages this week in time for Christmas.