The Knights of Columbus, together with the St. Paul Regional Santa’s Elves, were working hard last week to prepare 211 Christmas hampers for families who needed some help in putting food on the table and gifts under the tree this year.
Simon Dargis, the chair of the Knights of Columbus’ food drive, said in a phone interview on Friday afternoon that the project was a full go-ahead again this year. The cut-off date for the application for a hamper was Dec. 16, but there were still people calling in to ask for hampers even after that date, he noted. On Thursday, there were 140 requests for hampers, but as of Sunday, the demand had grown to the point that the Knights had to prepare 211 hampers.
“The gifts and grocery contributions were good,” said Dargis, “And some contributed cash donations too.”
The Knights of Columbus, together with volunteers from Regional High School, passed out hampers to families in need from 1 to 3 p.m. last Sunday, after spending Saturday packaging and preparing the hampers.
“We’re very happy with the work that all the people involved are doing,” said Dargis, adding, “There (were) generous offers to help us out at the hall on Saturday and Sunday … it’s nice to see the community is doing its share.”
Grand Knight Herman Poulin added, “And we had an army of youngsters, approximately 25 of them of them, from Regional High School, the 4-H club and other clubs helping out.”
Poulin went on to say that the cash donations were extremely useful since the organization received an overwhelming request of 211 hampers come in by the end of the week, but had only prepared for 150 hampers. Last year, the Knights fed 165 families through the project.
“We had to upgrade all the essentials (groceries),” explained Poulin.
However, all was well and both the Knights of Columbus and the Santa’s Elves managed to come up with exactly 211 Christmas hampers by Sunday morning.
Dawn Robitaille, a staff member of Regional high school who was leading the school’s Santa’s Elves program to collect presents for children and youth to accompany the hampers, couldn’t be reached for a comment as staff members of the school were gone for their Christmas holidays on late Friday afternoon.
Walter Pasquayak from Saddle Lake and his family received a Christmas hamper from St. Paul this year, the first time they have been recipients from the program.
“It was nice of them, and we appreciate the hamper very much since we have quite a few kids here,” said Pasquayak.
The Pasquayak household has five grandkids over for this Christmas, and the toys which came with the hamper were very much appreciated, he noted.
