Taking comfort in helping others during the holidays

Winnipeg

St. James-Assiniboia

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This article was published 08/01/2025 (272 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Thousands of Winnipeggers were able to enjoy the holidays a little bit more this year, courtesy of the Christmas Cheer Board.

The community-driven, grassroots non-profit, which was once again based at 895 Century St. for its recent campaign, officially opened its phone lines last Nov. 5, quickly receiving thousands of calls for its services.

“We ended up processing 26,000 applications, which was more than last year (2023),” said Shawna Bell, the Cheer Board’s executive director, noting that the organization was ultimately able to help 20,773 families in 2023.

Because of the 2023 demand, Bell said that a combination of factors, including an abundance of caution, meant organizers had a small surplus of hampers as the 2024 campaign drew to close, meaning the board’s west Winnipeg-based headquarters was abuzz with activity right up until 2 p.m. on Dec. 24.

“Dec. 23 and 24 were very busy in the warehouse. All our volunteers were relieved and happy, and handing out items right until the end. It was a long haul, and we got as many people as we could,” Bell said on Dec. 27.

Once again, Bell was thrilled by the way the board’s community of volunteers came together and rallied for the cause.

“So many people helped out — it was absolutely fantastic. We also saw a number of new volunteers coming to us,” she said.

“We’re very fortunate that people want to help, and I could never not acknowledge contribution of our volunteers. We’re very glad that people think of us and want to help — it’s huge.”

“This province is all about volunteerism, and people want to help their neighbours, their friends, and their family members, and they take great comfort in doing that,” Bell added.

Bell said the board was delighted to receive $100,000 funding from the province last December to help with its operations. A partnership with Tim Hortons also saw the launch of a holiday cookie for a limited period in December, which raised $84,000 for the organization.

The recent Canada Post also affected the Cheer Board’s bottom line, as some of its long-standing donors prefer to mail their contributions: “Some of these donors are very traditional, and digital formats don’t work for everyone, so we were down $200,000 in mail-in cheques, but our e-transfer donations were up by $50,000.”

All in all, Bell noted, it was a positive year for the Christmas Cheer Board.

“Moving forward, we’re still on the hunt for a semi-permanent location,” Bell said, noting there was still work to be done at the board’s warehouse at press time.

The board supports individuals and families in need across the city by delivering hampers and toys, including grocery hampers, for children aged 14 and under — all in an effort to provide a fulfilling holiday experience for those who may be struggling or might otherwise do without.

Visit www.christmascheerboard.ca for more information.