108 Christmas hampers were packed in Ste. Anne this year and it was a full community effort.

Armande Leclair, Manager of the Accueil Kateri Food Bank in Ste. Anne, says Ecole Pointe Des Chenes collected all the potatoes, carrots and onions. Ste. Anne Elementary, Immersion and Collegiate collected the non-perishable food items as well as students from the Collegiate helped with wrapping the gifts for the children. Leclair says a group of ladies cooked meat pies so that each hamper would have one. She adds some of the meat was even donated. Leclair says the community’s generosity has been overwhelming.

"People will write out cheques to the food bank for us to be able to have plentiful Christmas hampers," says Leclair, "they’re generous with their dry goods, generous with their time. We have a good team of volunteers, everything seems to be so well organized."

She adds two ladies put together a book sale at Dawson Trail Days and used to proceeds to buy brand new books for the children who will be getting a hamper.

As for toys, Leclair says the church has been involved in a tradition of collecting toys for several years.

"In a tree that is at the back of the church, they hang cards with gender and age of what they would like to have as gifts to give away and the people are encouraged to pick a card or two, whatever they want, and buy a gift for that age and gender and they bring it back the church," she explains.

Leclair notes the local Eastman Bantam AAA Selects also chipped in by hosting a tin for the bin at one of their recent games as well as giving the proceeds of their 50/50 to the Accueil Kateri Food Bank.

A crew of volunteers were busy packing hampers on Friday to be ready for pick up on Saturday and Sunday.