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HOPE For The Holidays needs your help to make Christmas special

An pay-what-you-can Christmas market just one of the expanded offerings from Lakeside HOPE House
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HOPE House has already received donations for its HOPE For The Holidays market, including these toys from the Trinity Riders Motorcycle Club. Twitter photo

An affordable Christmas market where people pay what they can for donated Christmas gifts highlights the expanded offerings of Lakeside HOPE House this holiday season.

It’s one of several activities planned as part of HOPE For The Holidays.

HOPE House will once again be doing its annual Christmas hampers for members of the community in need, but this year has added several other endeavours as part of the first HOPE For The Holidays campaign, said Kristen Tilley, Operations Lead at the Downtown Guelph-based charitable organization.

“We’re trying to make the whole holiday season about building community, that’s what this is really about,” Tilley said.

Last year HOPE House distributed 260 Christmas hampers to needy families throughout the city and could top 300 this year. Deadline for applications is Dec. 4.

“Although the hamper program isn’t a bad thing and people count on it every year, we thought ‘we can add to this,’” Tilley said.

The affordable Christmas market takes place at HOPE House’s Cork Street location from Dec. 18 to Dec. 21.

It’s a pay-what-you-can event with people shopping for new and gently used items that have been donated by the community. Those donations are currently being sought right up until the weekend of the market and can be dropped off any time between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at HOPE House.

“We’re always open to other ideas. We’re just excited to make it a great community event,” Tilley said.

Tilley mentioned items for teenagers and young adults as an area of need and recommended soaps, scarves, hats, soaps and lotions.

They are also looking for donations of gifts, cash or grocery store gift cards that can be used in the Christmas hampers, a program that cost HOPE House roughly $16,000.

“If you can’t afford gifts for family, it can be really stressful,” Tilley said, adding that the market will also help overcome other barriers, such as the logistics of trying to get somewhere to shop.

Other events that are part of HOPE For The Holidays are:

- Carolling at HOPE House on Dec. 12 at noon

- hamper packing and delivery on Dec. 14

- Christmas lunch on Dec. 20

- a wrapping party on Dec. 21

There will also be a free photos with Santa event, the date of which has not yet been selected.

Any questions can be directed to Tilley at [email protected].


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Tony Saxon

About the Author: Tony Saxon

Tony Saxon has had a rich and varied 30 year career as a journalist, an award winning correspondent, columnist, reporter, feature writer and photographer.
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