Board Chair Carolyn Schellenberg has served in a variety of ways for 16 years and is excited about the team this year.
"We have a great bunch of volunteers on our board, more so than we've had other years. A younger group, so we have more energy and they've really putting their all behind them in whatever they're doing. Our toy group has just got a huge bunch of toys and some kids are getting 2 toys this year, other than just one. And, we had enough games donated that we could put one in every hamper of over two people."
Hamper delivery day is a busy one, when many volunteers gather for instructions before loading up their vehicles and bringing Christmas cheer to homes in need.
"We have 365 hampers going out today and some are being picked up right here at the church and others are going to be delivered and the crew is ready to get going."
Schellenberg noted this is more than last year's 301 hampers.
"It's a great need. I know in the past, talking to some recipients how much they were waiting to get the hamper. That was when we were delivering food. Now, we are giving gift certificates for groceries. We have so many people from different backgrounds, giving them the Turkey is not part of their cultural thing, so we let them buy what they need."
This yearly endeavor is a community effort and Schellenberg expressed her gratitude on behalf of the board.
"Thank you, an awful lot. We were short on money, but it seems to be coming in right now. So, with the cost of groceries having gone up so much, we've had to increase the value of our gift certificates. We do accept money all year long, put it in the bank, and save it until we need it."