ABOUT THE HOLIDAY HAMPER PROGRAM
Brightening the Season for Edmonton Families in Need
The Holiday Hamper Program brings joy to Edmonton families who need it most. Community members join us as Holiday Hamper Elves, adopting local families and shopping for their festive meals. Using our grocery list, they fill hampers with holiday essentials, while we provide turkeys and fresh fixings. It all comes together on Delivery Day, when Elves deliver joy right to families' doors.
Watch our short video to hear heartwarming stories from principals, teachers, and social workers about the impact the program has on children in our supported schools.
We’re a registered charity, which means donations are tax-deductible. Thanks to the support of local residents, community partners, and JCI Edmonton, we're aiming to support over 2,000 families this year — and it's all possible because of generous Edmontonians like you.
How the Program Works
Every year, our amazing team of volunteers comes together to make the Holiday Hamper Program happen. We partner with with Edmonton's Public and Catholic Schools, along with our friends at Santas Anonymous, Adopt-A-Teen, and the Christmas Bureau, to source local families facing food insecurity and who could use a little extra joy during the holidays. Once we've got our list (checked twice, of course!), we invite our wonderful community members to become Holiday Hamper Elves. As an Elf, you 'adopt' a family in need and spread some holiday magic! The best part? You get to hand-deliver your hamper to the family you've adopted, creating a personal connection and heartwarming moments.
​​
In early December, we match our Holiday Hamper Elves with their adopted families. That's when the shopping begins! You follow our carefully curated grocery list, ensuring each family receives consistent, healthy items. Through year-round fundraising, we provide the turkeys, fish, and roasting pans, while you purchase the remaining essentials for a complete holiday meal.
Then, on the Saturday before Christmas, all our Elves gather at the Edmonton Expo Centre for the big day – receiving their family information and setting out to hand-deliver joy across the city.
Over 20 Years of
Special Memories
In 2004, an Edmonton teacher and JCI Edmonton member brought the idea of the Holiday Hamper Program to JCI Edmonton. In her role as a social worker with the school, she saw firsthand how her students and their families struggled throughout the year, especially through the holiday season. She wanted to make their seasons a little brighter by providing the families with healthy meals and ensuring that the kids had gifts to open. She saw a need for a program that could bring joy to kids and their families – and an annual tradition was born!
​
Since then, the Holiday Hamper Program has grown exponentially and has become a cornerstone of Edmonton's philanthropic community. The program started with one school and 13 families. Last year, with 77 partner schools, we helped provide Christmas meals and gifts to over 2,000 families in Edmonton.
Our Founders
JCI Edmonton is the Holiday Hamper Program's founding organization. JCI stands for Junior Chamber International – a global group of young leaders dedicated to creating positive change in themselves and their communities.
The Edmonton chapter of JCI has been making a difference since 1929 and has helped create many important community programs, including Junior Achievement and Boots on the Ground.
Our Sponsors
