In its 41st year, the charity collects new gifts for local kids and food to help families in need prepare a festive meal.
"This is probably my favourite thing to do every year because I get to see the spirit of giving and the opportunity to see families in need really feel blessed," Millard said. "As we go out to hand out the hampers, people are just so grateful. Community Christmas Care means that children who would not get toys and Christmas presents that they dream of, they receive; or families that might not have a Christmas dinner will get a turkey or a ham or something to make the season bright."
The organization is led by Squamish churches: Millard's Squamish United, St. John the Divine Anglican Church along with Squamish Baptist Church.
The charity is powered by a devoted group of volunteers.
With the pandemic dragging on and the cost of many things — groceries and gas especially — having increased, Millard said the need for the holiday hampers is more significant than ever." It is Christmas in a box, and people get to receive that gift of love and giving in a really tough time."
This year, more than 300 requests for hampers have been received.
Millard praised all who have so far donated, specifically noting the businesses who participated in this year's Squamish Battle of the Businesses.
The competition by local shops collected more than $40,000 for Christmas Care this year.
It has not been an easy time for local entrepreneurs this past year, yet they dug deep to help raise funds for Squamish Community Christmas Care, she said.
At times, Squamish can seem more divided than ever, but, through charity, folks see and feel how much most people ultimately want the best for each other.
"We are in a time where the world is faced with so much trauma and difficulty that the anxiety is high," she said. "But when people stop and think and get to the root of it, we all know that we want to offer love and joy, and this is an opportunity to stop and pause and really reflect on what is important."
Final pickups at local businesses will be Dec. 13.
The Squamish Chief has a drop box at the front of our office on Second Avenue and we always accept financial donations for Christmas Care. (Donations received too late for this year's hampers are given to the charity for next year.)
The hampers will be delivered to families on Dec. 16.
Due to COVID-19, more volunteers are not needed to sort and pack the hampers, but volunteer drivers are still needed to help deliver hampers on delivery day. (Email [email protected] to register to drive.)
Find out more about Squamish Community Christmas Care here.
***Please note, this story was updated after it was first posted to include the newly announced final tally raised by Battle of the Businesses.
