The Medicine Hat Women's Shelter Society has launched its Christmas Hamper Program. (Photo Courtesy Ross Lavigne)

By Prina Atwal

Women’s shelter launches Christmas Hamper Program

Nov 21, 2022 | 3:16 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Christmas is a little over a month away, and not everyone is fortunate enough to celebrate. And that is why the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society launched its annual Christmas Hamper Program.

The program aims to help families at the shelter celebrate Christmas, and Natasha Carvalho, executive director of the society, says many families are worried.

“Things are hard, and I think people are having to choose between paying rent or paying mortgages, and what they’re going to have left over after that,” she says. “The cost of groceries is gone up high, so being able to have a Christmas dinner is tricky too. So I think people are really concerned about, you know, how this is gonna look.”

Carvalho gives an idea of what kind of donations they are looking for.

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“Our toy supply is low, so we would love to have some more toys for kids of all ages, sports stuff is good too … and gift cards are always accepted.”

Carvalho adds gifts for parents are also appreciated, and each family will receive a gift card for groceries.

In-person donations for the Christmas Hamper Program can be made from Nov. 14 to Dec. 20 at Sun Valley Honda or Davis GMC Buick in Medicine Hat.

This year the shelter is hoping to help more than 300 families, and could be able to do that because of the community.

“I just want to say thank you to the community, we really reach out to the community this time of the year, for support, and we know they always come through to help us out, so we really appreciate that,” says Carvalho.

For more on what to donate or to make a financial donation, visit the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society website.