2015 Oshawa Kinsmen Durham College/UOIT Christmas Hampers

December 20 marks the 45 anniversary of the Oshawa Kinsmen assembling Christmas Hampers for families in need in the Oshawa area.  A lot of work goes into this before the actual day of delivery and many team members contribute to the annual success of this event that enhances the Christmas season for these families.  Meetings, phone calls, personal visits and much concern goes into making the purchase, assembly and delivery of Christmas dinner ingredients, gifts and much more.

 On December20, Christmas gifts for the 35 Kin families are picked up by Santa’s helpers as well as donated eggs from White Feather Farms, a long time Kinsmen hamper sponsor.  The gifts and the eggs will become part of the generous food package to be delivered to the anxious families on Sunday.

 At 8am on December 20, a truck donated by U-Haul Oshawa and driven by Kin Tony Geraci, will arrive at Chris and Beth’s No Frill’s to pick up $10,000 worth of food including all the necessary ingredients for an outstnading Christmas dinner.  These groceries will be delivered and sorted by category by the Oshawa Kinsmen, fellow kin club supporters and community volunteers. By 9am, the organizational meeting occurs and distribution to each of the 130 hampers for 35 Kin families registered with the Salvation Army and approximately 90 Durham College/UOIT families begins.  By 11am, all hampers are packed by a group of volunteers that usually exceeds 150 people with enough food for an awesome Christmas dinner and many more meals and ready for delivery to the waiting families.  Volunteers have signed up to deliver at least one hamper to the registered families and by 11:30 or so, the hampers leave the building on their way to families in need that welcome the arrival of final ingredient to enjoy the Christmas spirit.

  This project has had tremendous impact on the Oshawa Kinsmen members and has event contributed to new members from the volunteers that assist in assembling the hampers.  So, while we give to our community at a time they most need it, we contribute to the long term survival of the club to continue to serve our communities greatest need.