Clockwise from top left: Erin Katerynych (Food Bank); (left to right) Thomas, Jordan and Gilles Fransoo from Hamlin Farms Ltd. make a donation to Katerynych for the Food Bank; volunteers pack hampers. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff) 

By Angela Brown

Help for those in need

Empty Stocking Fund, Food Bank see lots of support

Dec 19, 2022 | 1:18 PM

The Battlefords District Food and Resource Centre (BDFRC) is enjoying plenty of donations from the community this year for the Empty Stocking Fund (ESF) project and the Food Bank.

“We’re distributing Christmas hampers today [Monday] and tomorrow [Tuesday] to people who are able to register,” executive director Erin Katerynych said. “We have 12 different families coming every 15 minutes. And we have toys bagged up for all the children getting gifts along with the Christmas hampers.”

This year almost 300 people are registered to receive an ESF hamper. About 500 toys will be matched with children for the project.

People who come in to pick up a Christmas hamper will also receive a free cab ride home.

Gilles Fransoo, his son Thomas and nephew Jordan all stopped by to donate $5,000 to the Food Bank on behalf of Hamlin Farms Ltd.

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“The Fransoo family, a local fourth-generation farm, recognizes the importance of community support and is proud to be in a position to help those less fortunate during this holiday season,” Hamlin Farms president Gilles Fransoo said in a release.

The statement said, with their gift to the Food Bank, the Fransoo family hopes to send a message of the importance of giving back to a community that their family has been actively involved over the years.

Katerynych was thrilled with the support, saying the money will be put towards the Food Bank’s programs for children, such as Food for Kids, and Milk for Kids.

“The community always steps up in time to help us out, and this year is no different,” she said. “We’ve had a lot of support with food, money, and gifts [toys] this year. So, we’re very appreciative to the community.”

Katerynych noted that Loraas Environmental Services collected around 4,700 pounds of food in the Battlefords area on Friday for the Empty Stocking Fund.

“They went around with the big red sleigh to businesses to pick [donations] up, which is fantastic..,” she said. “We have some more pick-ups to do this week.”

As well, the WPD Ambulance EMS Elves collected enough toys to fill up about two ambulances for the Food Bank, to distribute to families with children as part of the Christmas Hamper project. They also drove around to many businesses to collect toys for the campaign.

“Everything is coming together,” Katerynych said of all the support.

Katerynych also took the opportunity to thank the many volunteers helping with the Christmas Hamper distribution.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow