Akwesasne Holiday Helpers

Toy Drop Off Nov. 28th and 29th, Main Event Dec. 11th

 


The annual tradition of the giftbasket giveaway is weeks away and although the aim of making the holidays better is the same, a new crew is behind the scenes.

The Akwesasne Holiday Helpers is undertaking the task of putting the food drive together and they are putting all their effort into the project.

Although this new group is working from the ground up they have experience in raising funds.

Holiday Helpers committee member PJ Herne says most of the Holiday Helpers have previous experience and they were asked to take over.

“Most of us sit on the church (St. Regis Catholic Church) fundraising committee and we were approached to take this over because the old committee could not do it anymore,” said Herne.

Some of the tasks in front of the new group were bank accounts, setting up sub-committees and recruiting volunteers, which was the easiest as many are anxious to help out the community.

Dave Mainville is the Chairperson and he has offered his Brass Horse dining hall for their weekly meetings.

Other Holiday Helpers board members are Agatha Thompson, Sharon Thompson, Richard Laffin, Debbie Thomas, Chief Ron Lafrance, Lynn Thompson, Gloria Herne, Julia Back-Skidders, Lori Thompson, Patricia Thomas, Clarissa Chatland, Jill Benedict, April Lauzon, Matt Rourke, Starr Thomas and Melissa Jacobs.

They also picked up some sponsorship as the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe and Mohawk Council of Akwesasne got on board as well as the Akwesasne Convenience Store Association.

“That was our very first donation,” said committee member Caroline Peters.

The Mountain of Toys event is on December 11 but an added feature this year will be a Toy Drop held November 28 and 29.

“We hooked up with the Akwesasne Chamber of Commerce and anybody that brings in a toy we are going to give coupons, some of those prizes are a picnic table, toy box and $500.00 worth of fuel,” said Herne.

Donations can be dropped off at this event and local racer Louie “Action” Jackson has donated his truck and trailer to haul the collected toys around. In the meantime toys or non-perishable food items can be dropped off at local government offices. Anyone wishing to make a cash donation can contract Gloria Herne at 613 651-1061.

Registrations to receive the giftbaskets ended two weeks ago and the Seniors volunteers chipped in to man the tables. This proved valuable as some people couldn’t find time because of work and the seniors also provided some feedback on the baskets.

“In the past they were given food baskets, because of their diets some of them aren’t able to have them so we took that into consideration, we asked them what they wanted and some of them had some good feedback,” said Peters.

They wanted items like bingo dabbers, books, scarves, and to go easy on the sugary fruits.

They also streamlined those baskets according to the wishes of the seniors and not to give them too much as to not go to waste.

Holiday Helpers Member Everett Lazore said they got away from decorations and more towards feeding them.

“It might be part of the basket to have apples or something, it’s nice, it’s pretty, but too much for one person. By the time they get half way it’s spoiled and thrown away. We are heading in the direction of giving everybody food to have a meal,” said Lazore.

That giftbasket will have the fixings for a nice holiday meal as well as several more.

They are also looking at giftcards for a nice holiday ham and such for a Christmas dinner.

The actual December 11 Mountain of Toys event will be at the Hogansburg/Akwesasne Fire Station #1 with the traditional breakfast, lasagna luncheon and Akwesasne’s Most Wanted. This is a makeshift jail with a community member locked inside and donations must be made to free him/her.

The new Holiday Helpers crew estimates they are 40 to 50% finished with their task and there is still plenty of work to be done. They have their own Facebook page or you can call them at the Holiday Helpers Hotline at 315-296-8668 for anyone wanting to volunteer or for more information in general.

One area most important they need filling is to a volunteer to coordinate the volunteers. They are also reaching out the community to look for the shut-ins that were not able to make it to Saint Kateri Hall or the Fire Station to register.

“People who keep to themselves and don’t want to show up anywhere, call the phone number,” said Lazore.

The different social services in Akwesasne have been working with Holiday Helpers to look for these people who need a basket. This is very important as last minute registrants will be difficult to accommodate so the affirmed will need to be contacted as soon as possible.

The Holiday Helpers are working very hard to give the less fortunate a very Merry Christmas but there is still a lot of work to be done and time is short so anyone who will lend them a hand will be very much appreciated.

 

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