By Tammy Schneider

On Dec. 7, throughout the community, boxes of toys and non-perishable food items sat on doorsteps and porches, waiting to be picked up by student volunteers from Kincardine and District Senior School. Approximately 120 students and drivers volunteered their Saturday morning to canvas 20 routes.
Since 1988, Kincardine Community Services has organized the hamper program, which provides food items and gifts for the holiday season, for those in need. Students from KDSS have participated in the program for 23 years. The students, which this year included the grade 7s and 8s, walked the streets of Kincardine, collecting boxes of food and toys put out by homeowners, and loading them into nearby vehicles manned by adult volunteers.
Heather Finnie, a co-organizer of the program, said that this year 165 families, couples or singles pre-registered for the hampers. The 165 registrants represent approximately 500 people, of which over 200 are children. All are from the Kincardine area, as Tiverton and Ripley have separate hamper programs.
Finnie acknowledged the program wouldn’t be successful without the support of both donors and volunteers.
“People call us (to volunteer)”, said Finnie. “It’s a real ‘feel good’ event. Thanks for everything that the community does to support us and thanks to all the volunteers.”
After all the donated items were collected and sorted, the hampers were scheduled to be packed on Dec. 9, 10 and 11. By Friday, Dec. 13, the hampers are ready for distribution and can be picked up.