’Tis the season for Iqaluit’s Christmas hamper drive

KIRSTEN MURPHY

What was once a simple gesture has become an annual Christmas event in Iqaluit.

Iqaluit’s Rotary Club has taken up Fred Coman’s two-decade tradition of distributing Christmas hampers. Coman, a longtime resident, died in 1998 and Rotarians have led the noble cause for the past two years.

Rotarian Mac Maidens said the project continues because of community support: local businesses donate money, residents pack the goods into boxes, and the RCMP, Canadian Rangers and Cadets deliver the packages to needy families.

“It’s extremely well received, especially by families. It’s the time of year when it’s nice to be able to give something,” Maidens said.

Requests for monetary donations were mailed to 175 businesses in November. The money raised goes to the Iqaluit Christmas Hamper Fund administered by the Rotary Club.

With the money, Maidens and his elves put together the fixings for Christmas dinner. Each hamper is filled with a frozen turkey, a bag of potatoes, vegetables and dessert. In the past, donated toys were included.

Social Services identifies hamper recipients. Deliveries are made two days before Christmas.

“There are people in need in town. It’s the spirit of the season to give. This is a small community and it shows there are a lot of concerned individuals,” Maidens said.

He credits Fred Coman with getting the ball rolling. “When Fred died, he took a lot of knowledge with him,” Maidens said.

Fred Coman’s wife Oolahnee is delighted the program continues each year. “We only had turkeys when we first started,” she said.

To ensure no one was left out in the early days, the couple started delivering frozen turkeys in September.

“It’s very important this continues, especially with today’s unemployment. People are having tough times,” she said.