(Photo: Discover Airdrie News Centre)

The Airdrie Lioness Club is already gearing up for the Christmas Hamper Program in what should be one of their busiest years in recent memory.

Joyce Burrell, Media Relations with the Airdrie Lioness Club says they already have people calling about the program.

"With the economy the way it is, we've already been getting some sponsors and some requests for hampers which is earlier then we've ever had before."

This will be the 36th annual Airdrie Lioness Christmas Hamper Program as the club will operate out of a Poultry Health Services Ltd. warehouse this season but are looking for help to make hamper delivery more efficient.

"The location is a great location, we do have one small manned door but there's two bays in the back and we would love if we could get some type of volunteers to help build some type of ramp so that we can get our carts in and out of the building when we're accepting food and hampers."

Poultry Health Services Ltd. is giving the Lioness space at the back of their new warehouse location at 1A-4 East Lake Ave NE. Burrell says they're thrilled that the community continues to support the program.

"We are so excited and it's amazing that someone every year has stepped up to allow us to continue this program because without people like that there is no way we'd be able to continue so we really appreciate the individuals over the years that have always stepped up to help us in our need."

Last year the Christmas Hamper Program operated out of the old RCMP building after they moved to the new detachment.

Although the hamper program kicks off December 1st, the Lioness is looking for volunteers to either help build a ramp at the warehouse or just help sort food.

The Lioness Club is expecting to give out nearly 400 hampers this season in comparison to 307 hampers last year.

If you are in need of a Christmas hamper, you can register at the Airdrie Lioness website or contact either the Airdrie Food Bank or Community Links.

Bradley Jones - airdrienews@goldenwestradio.com