For some, Christmas is a time of joy and fellowship, but for others it can be a time of need and isolation. Pemberton’s Sea to Sky Community Services (SSCS) branch continues to be part of the solution, operating the “Holiday Hampers’’ initiative to help disadvantaged locals meet their needs over Christmas.
Loralee Seitz has overseen the program since 2012, and volunteered with it for years before that. Today she fills multiple roles with SSCS, coordinating the Pemberton Food Bank and facilitating the Healthy Pregnancy Outreach program. Seitz emphasized that Holiday Hampers is not funded by either of those initiatives, instead relying solely on community donations and fundraisers.
“I want to clearly say how thankful and grateful we are for those donors, because [our program] wouldn’t run without them,” she said.
Rising costs of living in the Sea to Sky area, combined with plateauing donations and heavy demand on local food banks, make Holiday Hampers more important than ever to the community. The initiative tends to serve different people from year to year, as some leave Pemberton or find stability while others arrive or fall on hard times. In 2022, Seitz has seen a notable uptick in new families with young children signing up for the program.
“I don’t know if you’ve been to the grocery store lately, but buying food for Christmas dinner right now is a super struggle for some, especially if you have a larger family,” she pointed out. “Or even if you are a single senior, it’s a challenge to put food on the table.”
While advertised as providing “dinner and a child’s gift” to families, Holiday Hampers takes a wide array of donations. Toys for kids of varying ages are always welcome, but parents are also invited to submit lists of needs that may not be front of mind on a child’s wish list, such as clothing.
Furthermore, the initiative also serves seniors, which means that items like winter boots, mittens, blankets, gift cards or even cash can be very impactful.
As of Dec. 19, 68 individuals of various ages have applied for assistance through Holiday Hampers, but Seitz expects that many more could sign up in the coming days. In her experience, many who are struggling will wait until the last moment to seek aid as they try to take care of themselves first.
“It takes a lot sometimes [to admit that you need help], but that’s why we’re here,” she said.
Fortunately, a “wonderful group of people” have already chosen to sponsor others through Holiday Hampers this winter. Sponsors are provided with lists of needs for underprivileged families who get to remain anonymous. They join Seitz and her peers in buying the requested items and handing them off to SSCS staff.
Once all donations have been obtained and arranged into bags and hampers, they are normally delivered to recipients by Pemberton firefighters. These volunteers try to make their deliveries before the school day ends so that kids can come home to gifts waiting for them. Seitz and her colleagues will occasionally bring hampers to families who wish to maintain a greater level of confidentiality.
While Holiday Hampers once provided food directly to those it served, the program now offers grocery store gift cards to help people shop for themselves. The current model—resembling the approach taken by Pemberton’s food bank—has received “overwhelmingly positive” feedback for empowering individuals to address their own needs, dietary and otherwise.
Above all, Seitz emphasizes the impact the program has perennially had on disadvantaged locals.
“Although these families that are sponsoring other families don’t necessarily get to meet each other or know a whole lot about each other, I can say from personal experience, I am so privileged to be able to hand these presents and gift cards off,” she said. “I don’t even know if I have the words to express the gratitude that comes from the families accepting these presents.
“It’s overwhelming, it’s heartbreaking. It’s heartwarming. I have a hard time finding the words because it is so emotional, and so wonderful.”
Those looking to help can reach Seitz directly at 604-894-6101 or via email at [email protected].
