A long-standing Christmas program in Saskatoon is seeing the impact of COVID-19 firsthand.
650 CKOM’s Adopt-a-Family has received more than 5,000 requests from families needing help purchasing toys and food this Christmas.
“There is a lot of need. People are hurting,” said Judy Regamey, executive director of the Saskatoon Salvation Army which operates the program in conjunction with the radio station.
This year the program has matched 435 families with sponsors, compared to 250 the year before. A further 475 families are being helped through more than $64,000 in donations.
Despite the generosity from the community, more than 4,000 families need help. Regamey said nobody will be turned away, but donations big and small are needed.
“(Fifty dollars) will will buy a hamper of food or a gift card for food,” she said. “Fifty dollars, that goes a long way.”
Applications to be a sponsor are now closed, but monetary donations can still be made online at the Salvation Army website.
For sponsors already enrolled, the dropoff day is Saturday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. at TCU Place.