Every year, the Port Elgin District Voluntary Action Council, more commonly known as PEDVAC, puts together Christmas boxes for about 50 families in the Port Elgin area, and despite limitations that come along with a global pandemic, this year is no different.
Katie Tower is the new executive director of PEDVAC, about three months into the job, and entering a busy time for the community hub.
“Each box that goes out contains a turkey and all the trimmings for Christmas dinner, plus groceries for a week. We have toys and gifts or each family member, including children, and hand knitted hats, and mittens and socks, as well as Christmas candy that goes out in those boxes,” says Tower.
If a family is in need, “they can refer themselves,” says Tower, “or we also accept referrals from community agencies, groups or individuals on behalf of those that they feel may be in need of assistance.”
“Financial strains this time of year can really affect families and seniors,” says Tower. “So we’re just looking to help.”
Tower says that she’s hoping people facing additional challenges this pandemic year, with job losses and other economic stresses, will get in touch so PEDVAC can help. Applications can be picked up and filled out at PEDVAC on Church Street in Port Elgin, Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Tower says community support is what makes the Christmas Box campaign happen. “And thankfully, we have that in spades here,” she says.
Businesses and individuals contribute money and goods to help fill the boxes. “As well, this program obviously couldn’t happen without our volunteers.
PEDVAC volunteers help coordinate the effort, as well as helping sort and wrap gifts, and deliver boxes. “In past years,” says Tower, “they also helped with filling the boxes for distribution. But this year with COVID, it’s going to be a little bit different in that we’re probably using our staff just because of COVID protocols.”
They are accepting donations in person and through e-transfer, to pedvacfoundation@xplornet.ca.
Because PEDVAC makes customized boxes for families, they also put the call out for appropriate gifts for children. Local stores and restaurants display paper Christmas decorations with different ages and genders of kids, and people are invited to grab one and bring it back to PEDVAC with an appropriate gift.
“People can be pretty imaginative on what they’d like to bring in for that child,” says Tower.
PEDVAC had a four month shutdown early on in the pandemic, though they kept running their food bank for those in need. However the PEDVAC boutique, which is a staple fundraiser for the community centre, was closed.
“So unfortunately, we did lose a little bit of our revenue from that, as well as some of the other programs we run. So but we reopened in July,” says Tower. “And so we’ve had great community support and our customers are coming back and shopping here and keeping our boutique operating.”
The boutique is open three days a week, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from 12 to 4pm.
“We’re so extremely grateful to the community for always rallying,” says Tower, “whether it’s a cash donation, whether it’s a gift donation, whether it’s volunteering or whether it’s just comment coming in and supporting our boutique. It all contributes to our Christmas box campaign.”