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WESTLOCK - Applications have closed for the 2020 Westlock & District Family and Community Services’ Christmas Spirit program, and the numbers are on par with 2019.
Program coordinator Maureen Schiller said they’re still going through all the paperwork, but so far they’re tracking lock-step with 2019 when they provided 336 area residents, including 172 children from the Town of Westlock, Westlock County and the Village of Clyde, with Christmas gifts. On Monday FCSS staffers and volunteers will begin the two-week process of handing out the gifts to area residents.
“The numbers are very similar, we haven’t done the final crunch, but going through at a quick glance we’re right on par with last year,” Schiller said Dec. 10.
“The community has been awesome with what they’ve donated so far. We really appreciate their support.”
And although the application process has closed, the program still needs donations. Formerly known as Santa’s Anonymous, Christmas Spirit provides adults with food vouchers or gift cards to purchase food, while kids get gifts and families get both.
“We haven’t reached our target yet so we’re still in need of donations,” said Schiller. “But it’s still trickling in, it’s only the middle of December so we expect some more to come.”
Schiller said donations (credit cards, PayPal and gift cards) are being accepted online — folks can follow the link from the FCSS page or go straight to https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/51986.
In-person cash donations can be made at the FCSS office located at #201, 10004 - 107 Street — the office is only open via appointment.
“We accept money all year round to the program,” she said.
