Kids go shopping at community Santa’s Hut programs

By Joan Janzen

It’s that time of year when people are busy Christmas shopping, and that includes young shoppers. Thanks to the West Central Crisis & Family Support Centre Inc, children in Kindersley, Eston, Marengo, and Coleville enjoy shopping at Santa’s Hut in their respective communities.

Young shoppers were busy Christmas shopping at Santa’s Hut at Rossville School in Coleville on Saturday, December 7th. Joleen Scheible was the volunteer co-ordinator for the project. PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN

Monica Shields, Admin Triage Coordinator at the Crisis Centre, said the three surrounding communities operate self-sufficiently under the umbrella of the Crisis Centre. “They work hard to spread the joy of Christmas shopping to the youngsters in our satellite towns and villages while raising donated funds for the programming we provide throughout the year,” she explained.

Children in those communities were able to get a head start on their Christmas shopping. The fun began on Monday, December 2nd, at Eston when Santa’s Hut coordinators Joni McLean and Amanda Lonnberg welcomed preschool and kindergarten kids to shop before the school-aged children came through their doors.

Kelty Heeks coordinated the Santa’s Hut at Marengo the following Thursday morning at Westcliffe School. Children were busy shopping for their dads, moms, grandparents and siblings.

Children from the community of Coleville did their shopping on Saturday, thanks to the efforts of volunteer coordinator Joleen Scheible. All proceeds from the Santa’s Hut program go to the Crisis Centre.

Meanwhile, Chelsea Omness has efficiently taken over the Santa’s Hut Program in Kindersley. Kids in Kindersley will have to wait until December 17th to do their shopping at the Kindersley Mall, where they’ll be assisted by some of Santa’s helpers. Players from the Kindersley Klippers volunteer to help the kids do their Christmas shopping.

“I think the kids are just as excited to see the hockey guys as they are to shop,” Monica said. “The Kindersley Klippers team is always a valuable supporter of the Santa Hut initiative. They host the yearly teddy bear toss game and bring the toys, stuffies and cash donated during the evening.”