Santa Fund North Bay short of its goal, organizers hope for last dash of donations

This week, volunteers from the Algonquin Regiment unpacked groceries dropped off at the headquarters of the Santa Fund North Bay and prepare to create holiday hampers.

It’s a labour of love.

This week, volunteers from the Algonquin Regiment unpacked groceries dropped off at the headquarters of the Santa Fund North Bay and prepare to create holiday hampers. (Eric Taschner/CTV News)

"They're really the beating heart of this whole effort," said co-chair Geoff Richardson.

"They're unpacking all the groceries right now. We're organizing them and making sure we have enough."

The need is greater than ever before, Richardson said.

Rising costs not being matched by higher wages means about 375 families and 1,200 children in North Bay rely on donations.

With the deadline fast approaching, there’s some concern. The Santa Fund has currently raised just more than $80,000, well short of its $175,000 goal.

"Some of that is because of the postal strike. Cheques haven't been coming," co-chair Tracy Sloan said.

"I also think that the Carmine Ricciuti Christmas Special, which is happening tomorrow at Twiggs, normally happens about a week before. But this time around, it just didn't work out that way."

The Christmas special last holiday raised over $37,000 for the Santa Fund.

This week, volunteers from the Algonquin Regiment unpacked groceries dropped off at the headquarters of the Santa Fund North Bay and prepare to create holiday hampers. (Eric Taschner/CTV News)

In its 77th year, the packing and hamper delivery has become a Christmas tradition for many volunteers who want to help.

In 1949 the fire chief at the time, Art Haley, Sam Jacks, the Director of Parks and Recreation for North Bay and local businessman Ed Dewey saw that there were about 25 needy families in North Bay.

Their wish was to make Christmas a little brighter for the families and children, so they collected cash donations and procured food hampers and toys.

As the years progressed, the need. They decided to pack the baskets at Dr. MacDougall Public School and have the public come and help deliver the baskets to each family residence.

“It's really important that we continue this tradition and I do know that North Bay is really behind us with this,” Sloan said.

This week, volunteers from the Algonquin Regiment unpacked groceries dropped off at the headquarters of the Santa Fund North Bay and prepare to create holiday hampers. (Eric Taschner/CTV News)

Each family will get a food hamper which includes a turkey dinner, enough groceries to last about a week, a $40 dollar gift card to buy nonperishable food items and toys.

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“I know it's never enough. But at least for that stressful holiday time, we can really kind of come in and make sure that they're being taken care of,” Richardson explained.

In past years, the Santa Fund met its goal at the very last second. Organizers hope a last dash of donations will pour in.

Donations can be made at Gem Sewing on Worthington St. West or on the Santa Fund’s website until tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m.

On Sunday, the volunteers will start packing from 2:00-5:00 p.m. Then on Monday, starting at 9:30 a.m., the packages will be loaded and sent out for delivery.