Dozens of elf-like volunteers were busy making lists and checking them twice Tuesday (Dec. 20) in East Delta.
Five apples, 10 pounds potatoes, two loaves bread, 10 packs dry noodles, one carton candy canes—the list of edible items went on.
Over the course of the day, close to 100 people took shifts at a farm warehouse on 104th Street to help assemble Christmas hampers for Deltassist Family & Community Services. The hampers will be delivered to low-income families and seniors on Christmas Eve.
Overseeing the operation was Ladner's George Koka, chair of the Christmas Hamper Fund, who has been involved with the organization for more than three decades.
"It's a good program, it helps all the Delta people," he says.
Koka surveys the row upon row of packed cardboard boxes, each brimming with dry goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, and canned items.
"You name it, we have about every can you can think of in there," he says.
Before delivery, all hampers will receive the crowning item—a five-to-seven kilogram turkey.
Food and monetary donations were provided by individuals, elementary and high schools, local farms, businesses and service clubs.
By Tuesday mid-morning the group of bustling volunteers had already packed up more than 500 hampers. Koka expects to distribute 560 hampers this year, up slightly from last year's 539 hampers.
Deliveries begin at 8:30 a.m. Christmas Eve and, thanks to an expected fleet of 200 volunteer drivers, all families who have registered for a hamper through Deltassist should receive their package by noon.