20 years of providing Edmontonians in need with holiday hampers

Saturday is a big day for an Edmonton charity and it's also the 20th year the organization has handed out its namesake holiday hampers to those in need.

Holiday Hamper Edmonton volunteers fill hampers with holiday essentials like food and household supplies and donate them to families.

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This year, the group aims to donate hampers to 2,000 families, their most ambitious goal yet according to Megan Normandeau, a Holiday Hamper committee member.

Families will get a turkey or fish, vegetables donated by local producers and non-perishable items bought by volunteer "elves."

"Our elves are really the unsung heroes. They are the ones who are going to the grocery store, shopping for those non-perishables, completing the grocery list, buying small gifts for the family," Normandeau said.

Around 100 volunteers were busy on Friday at the Edmonton Expo Centre, packing vegetables and preparing for tomorrow, when around 1,400 volunteers will drive by, collect hampers and deliver them.

"Every year we are continuously increasing the number of families that we support. Last year it was 1,700," Normandeau said.

"We are working with Edmontonians to really get the word out and we're very grateful that we have lots of long-time elves who come back year over year, tell their friends and family, get their coworkers involved, and every year we always seem to pull it off."

Many volunteers get involved through their workplace or sports team, but plenty are just ordinary Edmontonians who want to help.

"We have little ones who come with their parents and then we also have some of our older elves who are able to support a family as well," Normandeau said. "It's really a great experience and for lots of people, it's a family tradition for them.

"I am very grateful and I know as an organization, we're very grateful for everyone."

Holiday Hamper also works with the Christmas Bureau and Santas Anonymous to ensure families that need additional resources have access to them.

"We're really restocking pantries, we're restocking fridges, it's not just a single Christmas dinner or holiday dinner, it is really supporting families through the holiday season," Normandeau said.

The organization also works with schools to determine which families are most in need each year.

With files from CTV News Edmonton's David Ewasuk