Generous community makes for successful KDSS Christmas Knights food and toy drive

St. Anthony's Parish Hall, Kincardine was a beehive of activity Saturday morning, as about 50 volunteers were kept busy sorting a huge amount of donations brought in by the Kincardine District Secondary School Christmas Knights during their 21st annual food and toy drive.

About 110 students and 20 volunteer drivers went door-to-door, collecting non-perishable food and new toys for the Kincardine Christmas Hamper program. Christmas Knights organizers Julia and Alex Hallam and Victoria Weber said there were 24 routes, covering from Heritage Heights in the south to Huron Ridge in the north.

Heather Finnie, co-ordinator of the hamper program, said it's great to see so many students and volunteers participating, and the great mountain of food and toys, thanks to the continued generosity of the community. And once again this year, there was a record number of volunteers on the receiving end to help sort and box the non-perishable food, new toys and knitted items, as well as warm hats, mitts and gloves.

Finnie said there are 182 hampers to fill this year, down slightly from 185 last year. Monday (Dec. 11), volunteers will begin packing the hampers which will be picked up Friday.