An estimated $5,723 was raised for the Airdrie 1st Holiday Hamper Program during the fifth annual Sirens charity hockey game that took place on Sunday. This year's total beat out the 2022 total by approximately $1,723.
Gifts donated totalled approximately $3140, with Team Red (firefighters) inching out Airdrie Mounties to raise $1,629, while Team Blue had $1,520 worth of gifts donated. Cash donations and gift cards totalled $1,836, while the 50/50 raffle that was held during the game amassed another $737.
On Sunday, afternoon the city's firefighters as well as Airdrie's Mounties and Municipal Enforcement took to the ice in the Ron Ebbesen arena for the annual event. Although, historically, Airdrie firefighters have dominated the game, this year, Airdrie RCMP won with a score of 10-7, bagging an empty netter at the very end of the game.
The donations come at a time when the Airdrie 1st Holiday Hamper Program is seeing historically high numbers of hamper recipients.
"Our need has increased 75 per cent, [in comparison to this time last year.] It's a devastating time for a lot of people and the hamper program serves to help everyone feel like they are having a joyous time during the holidays," Heather Harke, media member for the Airdrie 1st Club previously said.
When asked what the Airdrie 1st Club is looking for, Harke said that cash donations are always welcome. But gift cards to grocery stores are also vital. Harke said that if one is planning to buy gift cards, it may be more prudent to buy denominations of $25, rather than one gift card totalling $100.
"We can really direct that to a lot more families]; so the gift cards are critical for grocery stores," she said.
As far as toy wishlists go, one of the most requested items was for Barbie dolls (which shouldn't be surprising due to the smash cult hit movie Barbie this year). Lego building sets, as well as Roblox gift cards, are also in high demand; though Harke stressed that any toys are welcome.
Following tradition, each year the Airdrie 1st Club tries to hone in on a specific area of the population, this year teenage boys and men have been chosen.
"[These] are the two biggest categories that are sometimes overlooked. Oftentimes we have to make up things for the men of the family or the teenagers. It's easier when you go shopping to buy something fun like a toy or a game than it is to go to Canadian Tire and buy gift cards," she explained.
Harke said that when it comes to gift ideas for teenagers, gift cards that allow them to socialize when friends and peers, allow for a feeling of inclusivity. She suggested gift cards to various coffee places like Starbucks or McDonalds, or mall gift cards.
Donations are still welcome at the Airdrie 1st Club's donation center located in Towerlane Mall (#310, 505 Main Street). The center is open from Tuesday to Friday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday opening times are 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The application for the Holiday Hamper Program is open until Friday, December 8.
In 2022, the program handed out 370 hampers while this year they estimate that they will prepare and hand out 400-450 hampers.
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