Chaplain’s Christmas Hampers ready for distribution to local families

By Patricia Leboeuf | December 16, 2021 | Local

Men and women, most in camo uniform wearing masks, three people hold giant cheque

The Chaplain’s Christmas Hampers program helps military families around the holidays by providing toys, food and gift cards. The Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 67 in Lindsay, Ontario, presents a group of Chaplains with a $5,000 to help families in need. (Submitted photo)

The Chaplain’s Christmas Hampers make the holidays brighter for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members struggling at this time of year.

Hamper recipients are nominated by friends, coworkers, unit leadership or even themselves. They are then given a basket full of presents, food and gift certificates to help them have a merry Christmas.

“This way we can send a little encouragement to our soldiers at home and give that extra that they need in the season so they can start over again in the new year,” said Padre Captain (Capt) Michelet Dormeus.

n 2020, about 80 hampers were distributed. This year, approximately 65 families will receive one.

Capt Dormeus, however, doesn’t see this decrease as a positive. He noted that requests from single soldiers and small families have greatly declined, replaced by large families.

“Even though the number, if I compare (to 2020) is smaller, the number of children that we are serving is much greater,” said Capt Dormeus.

Due to this, the nomination deadline was extended to Dec. 10. However, the Padres are confident the hampers will satisfy every family’s needs.

As Chaplains, it is their job to care for military members, whether their spiritual, emotional or physical needs.

“We can feel what they feel, and we can go where they go,” said Capt Dormeus, “because we know what our members are experiencing. So, therefore, we know that we have members that aren’t doing well financially.”

They have been handing out hampers for over 20 years and have built partnerships in the community to help fund the program. For the past two years, Support Our Troops has been their major sponsor. They also received a $5,000 cheque from the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 67.

Though Capt Dormeus would rather the program be unnecessary, it is still one of his favourite ways to help. He just loves seeing the faces of soldiers and their loved ones light up when they pick up their hampers.

“It is a joy to see them receiving something that will help them with their families,” said Capt Dormeus.

“You see in their eyes that it touches their hearts.”