GLACE BAY, N.S. — John White remembers the Christmas Crew delivering groceries to a house one year that he knew some people would wonder why.
The house was newer, fairly large and from the outside, it didn’t look as if the family was in need of much.
But White said few people realized the father of the home had recently died. He was the primary earner in the home and his widow was dealing with the decrease in finances as well as her grief.
“We wanted to give her a little help for the holidays, give her a little something less to worry about,” said White who started the Christmas Crew 25 years ago with his wife Junnie and a fellow teacher Troy White (no relation).
“I don’t want to see anybody struggling at Christmas.”
Having helped thousands over the years, White said they are on track to help the most people ever for 2019, thanks to raising the largest amount ever (more than $13,000) at their fundraising auction.
“It was a banner year,” enthused White. “And the support we had from local businesses was amazing.”
There are no formal applications for people to apply for help from the Christmas Crew, who on average deliver 300 orders per year. Word of mouth and private recommendation from people like teachers are primarily how White and his team determine who to deliver orders to, which will be done on Dec. 22 this year. Families, seniors and other people in need can also reach out to the crew for help through their Facebook page or by calling White at 902-304-0833 or 902-561-0497.
“Some people will say to us, “If I give you $50 for a grocery order, can you get it to a friend of mine,” White explained. “They want to help out, but they want to do it anonymously.”
Over the years, Christmas Crew has grown from delivering 52 grocery orders (which include turkey, all the fixings and snacks like potato chips) to more than 300 and the organization became a registered charity in 2011.
It has also expanded to include more than just toys thanks to Glace Bay’s Future Ready club, a youth group run by White and the Bargain Shop in Glace Bay.
Together they’ve organized a toy drive for Dec. 7 at the Bargain Shop on Main St., Glace Bay, where food and donations for the Christmas Crew can be dropped off. There will also be a bus and White hopes they will stuff it with donations to help those in need have a good Christmas.
The toy drive/stuff the bus event will also feature family entertainment like live music and Disney characters.
Christmas Crew
- Founded: 1994
- Became registered charity: 2011
- Provides: Groceries for Christmas, days after
- Goal: Provide enough food, snacks until New Year’s
- Helps: Over 300 families in Glace Bay, surrounding areas
- Deliveries this year: Dec. 22
- For more information: 902-304-0833
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