Spaghetti dinner kicks off Christmas Hamper Program

Written By MARNI WALSH

Service Clubs will kick off support for the Shelburne Christmas Hamper Program on November 15th with a delicious spaghetti dinner at the Agriculture Society building on William Street.  The dinner will run from 5 pm to 7:30 pm with all profits going to purchase food and gift certificates for the much needed seasonal hampers.

Chair of the Shelburne Christmas Hamper Program, Bobbie Ferguson, says the organization “is managed by the Service Clubs of Shelburne and has been in existence for more than 50 years.” She says, “The program assists local families with the extra constraints of the holiday season in a discrete and controlled manner.”

Toys, non-perishable food items and money are donated by the residents, businesses, organizations and schools in the Shelburne area. Collection sites are set up around town, including Town Hall, RBC and Pace Credit Union. The service clubs will also be collecting at the Mel Lloyd Centre from December 19th to the 21st.

Bobbi Ferguson explained that the program is open to qualified families, as well as couples, singles and seniors. Each applicant will receive hampers of food which include both non-perishable and fresh produce, and grocery gift cards to purchase a turkey, ham or holiday specialty food of their choice. Gift cards are included in the hampers for children aged 12 to 18 years, and toys for those children less than 12 years of age. Many other necessity and holiday items are included in the hampers.

The Chair says, the service clubs “can always use donations to help support the spaghetti dinner to keep expenses low, but most of all,” she says, “We need eaters.” The event will include as much fun as food, with raffles and prizes, as well as music by DJ “EZ Len” and announcements by MC “Waggy.” 

Registration for the Shelburne Christmas Hamper program takes place at the Mel Lloyd Centre, at 167 Centre St. Shelburne starting November 22nd. Those wishing to register should come to the second floor by Entrance C. Registration. Registration dates include:

Thursday, November 22nd from 7 pm to 9 pm

Wednesday, November 28th from 11 am to 1 pm

Wednesday, December 5th from 11 am to 1 pm

The Service Clubs report that monetary donations are still needed to purchase grocery gift cards, as well as gift cards for youth, and to supplement much needed items for the hampers. Non-perishable food items and new toys for age's newborn to 11 years are still needed. “Over the past three years, we have provided a “helping hand” to approximately 60 families, consisting of over 200 individuals, per year.” That number is expected to grow in 2018.

Donation cheques can be mailed to Shelburne Christmas Hampers co Rotary Club of Shelburne, PO Box 27 Stn Main, Shelburne, ON L9V 3L8. (Please make cheques payable to: Shelburne Christmas Hampers.) Support the Christmas Hampers Program by attending the Spaghetti Dinner at the Agricultural Society Building, 377 William Street in Shelburne, starting at 5 pm on November 15th. Cost for the dinner is $10 for adults, or $8 with a non-perishable food donation, and only $5 for kids 12 years and under. For information, to reserve tickets, or to donate - contact shelburnechristmashampers@gmail.com or phone Bobbi Ferguson at 519-278-4578.