The Airdrie Lioness Christmas Hamper Program is coming to an end, and boxes filled with food and gifts are being handed out this Saturday and Sunday to families in need around Christmas

 The boxes absolutely filled the room they were stored in, as 350 boxes stuffed full of Christmas goodies were donated this year. Donations of toys, food and even toilet paper were accepted and stuffed into boxes now just waiting to be handed out to the families in need of a helping hand.

Spearheading the donations this year were Teams Blue and Red of the Airdrie Lip Sync Sirens contest, where RCMP and MEs teamed up against the Fire Department and local EMS to see who could raise the most for the Hamper Program. Team Red came out on top this year, but ultimately the true goal was to raise as much charity as possible

Airdrie Lioness president Rhonda Auclair stood amid the boxes to say exactly what the plans are for this weekend.

"We are surrounded by the hampers that have been created by the residents of the city of Airdrie. There are 350 hampers in the hall here, and we are going to be delivering them Saturday and Sunday this coming weekend."

Auclair says the hampers are meant to give families in need a helping hand around this difficult time of year.

"The hampers are all going to residents of Airdrie who are in need of a little bit of help up this Christmas."

It seems Airdrie is always in the mood to give back, and Auclair says it's incredible to see the giving hearts of Airdrie locals working.

"This is absolutely awesome that the city of Airdrie residents have such a compassionate heart and that they are willing to give back to someone who might be a little bit less fortunate than them or is just struggling a little bit and needs a little handout."

Auclair says that they have yet to pack fresh food into the boxes, but will do that in time for the weekend.

"In the hampers, there is food for a week plus Christmas dinner. We do have, which (will be) added to these boxes, fresh produce, milk, bacon, margarine, some vegetables and that kind of thing. Then inside the box is also a gift for each family member

She says the two Lip Sync Sirens teams gave a huge amount and were a tremendous help.

"Team Red and Team Blue are absolutely awesome. They did a toy drive for us in November, and they collected over 1500 toys that we have put into all of the hampers."

Auclair says the Hampers will really brighten up a child's Christmas.

"What does it mean to children at Christmas? It's magical. It's just totally magical."

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