With Christmas a mere ten days away, families are feverishly getting ready to sit down for a feast and children are waiting to tear open gifts. But for some, it is a time of distress.
 
D. (whose full name has been withheld for confidentiality) was referred to the Airdrie 1st Club by the Airdrie Food Bank and has been utilizing the Christmas Hamper Program. She said, in the beginning, it was hard to ask for help.
 
"You know what I have found with Airdrie, which I haven't found this when I've lived in Calgary, but in Airdrie, it's the most giving and helping community that I have ever seen," she said. 
 
D. has not been able to work for two years after being diagnosed with Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). She also suffers from chronic lung disease. Lupus is an autoimmune disease which, according to the CDC  means that the "immune system attacks its own tissues, causing widespread inflammation and tissue damage in the affected organs. It can affect the joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels. Before D.'s diagnosis, she worked in the trucking industry, but her health condition worsened, putting her safety at risk.
 
"It has put a damper on income for us. So my husband's been the only one [working] and even then it hasn't been enough to be able to provide any sort of Christmas for the kids," she said. "There was a time where I started almost falling asleep while I was driving. So they cut me off from her working entirely."
 
D.'s husband who works as a framer is now supporting his entire family, which includes two little girls, aged three and five.
 
"He's kind of killing himself to work for us, to provide for our family. He's working like seven days a week, just to help us."
All though she is no longer working, she is taking care of her children full-time while also trying to start up a construction business with her husband. D. said that Christmas is particularly stressful as she wasn't sure if she would even be able to afford new clothes for her daughters and the Christmas Hamper Program has allowed her family to breathe a little easier.
 
"It helped us a lot in trying to give us some relief lower the stress levels, providing a Christmas for our kids."
 
When asked what her children want for Christmas D. said one little girl asked for a walking, talking monkey. while the other is very much into dinosaurs.
 
"We'll see what Santa can do with that monkey," she said. "I just want them to have a good Christmas."
 
Recently, the Airdrie 1st Club amassed over $9,500 in donations from Sirens Charity Hockey Game, although they are still in need of volunteers.
 
D. said if these past few years have taught her anything, it's that you can't be afraid to ask for help.
 
"I've learned to reach out, especially being in Airdrie; it is such a giving community is unbelievable."