Ashleigh Presenger has faith in the community.
In her 27 years volunteering she’s seen scarcity at the Christmas Cheer Fund before. That’s why she knows although donations are down right now, they won’t be for long.
“Thunder Bay has a way of stepping up for people in need,” she said Sunday afternoon at the CLE Heritage Building. “I don’t have any doubt that the city will come forward.”
With just a few days before hampers are handed out to roughly 6,700 people, more than 4,500 of them children, the fund still needs $60,000 and a whole lot of food.
“We still don’t have nearly enough food to fill the hampers,” fund chair Linda Gambee said. “WE need a ton.”
“It’s the children that need it so we’re really hoping that people can dig deep.”
The campaign held its blitz this weekend and did raise an impressive $35,000 in that time. But if more isn’t raised, the fund will have to borrow from the bank, something it hasn’t done in a long time Gambee said. And they’ve already had to remove some items that are usually found in the hampers. Gambee stressed it will still be a good size though. She said there are lots of reasons why numbers might be down this year, from other worthwhile charities to the flood in May. Then there’s the unseasonable warmth and rain.
“When the weather doesn’t look like it’s Christmas or snowing people aren’t in the Christmas mood,” she said.
Hampers will be handed out Tuesday and Wednesday along with new toys for children.
