AIDS Saskatoon Holiday Hampers 2011

1. AIDS Saskatoon Holiday Hampers 2011 The Verna and Lionel McGillivray Fund for Children in Saskatchewan Saskatoon Community Foundation

2. Some of the Goodies in a Small Family HamperHoliday Hampers, 2011

3. Some of the Goodies in a Large Family HamperHoliday Hampers, 2011

4. To all the people that put the Christmas Hampers together: One of the hardest things to do is to write a letter of thanks—which seems like too small a word, compared to all of the people who have used so much of their time at the busiest time of the year, with getting Christmas ready for your own families, to get all the hampers ready for the people who are sick. I can honestly say that there are people who see and recognized your selfless act, your extreme gift of giving, while asking nothing in return. You all managed to get to every last family in time. Just think, come Christmas: the children running around the house with the gifts you have sent in the hamper, while they are smelling your turkey cooking, mom and dad are happy watching the children playing and waiting for their supper. You have given the families, especially the children, the magic feel of Christmas. They never forget that. Those memories are the ones I fall back on in times of pain. This is no gift better given than a gift given with love. Thank you all, every single one of you. This has been written to you with love. —the R. family

5. Hamper Packing, December 2011Aloys Fleischmann, AIDS Saskatoon Board of Directors

6. Hamper Packing, December 2011Nancy Van Styvendale, AIDS Saskatoon Board of Directors

7. “This was a very hard year. I was in and out of the hospital a lot. It was very hard on my kids and they were very scared I was going to die. Christmas was extra important to them this year, and I was able to be home for it. Thanks to the hamper from AIDS Saskatoon, we didn’t have to worry about getting food or gifts and were able to take a break from AIDS and being poor…sharing and laughing and being together. Special thanks to you all from me and my family. Bless you.” —CS and family “While we did not know it then, it was my brother’s last Christmas—you don’t realize how much you enhanced our lives by making this Christmas a beautiful one, one to remember forever. The hamper from AIDS Saskatoon was truly a blessing from above and made our holiday a more joyous one for me, our family, and—especially—the children.” —CD and family

8. Toys and Gifts for ChildrenHoliday Hampers 2011

9. Homemade BakingHoliday Hampers 2011

10. “I would like to thank everyone at the 601 and AIDS Saskatoon for your generosity and support. When I returned home from the hospital after a long stay, the Christmas hamper was waiting for me. The enormous amount of food and gifts in that hamper really helped me through the holidays and my recovery, and I wouldn’t have had any of it without your support. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.” —RL “The Christmas hamper gave us a chance to enjoy each other and our life, if only for a short time—without having to worry about our next meal or scrounging for little gifts to give our loved ones, especially the little ones. There was so much there, so many nice things—sweaters, gifts, toiletries—and it stretched out right through the holidays. Bless you and yours.” —DD & TP “The hamper was awesome. All of our family was able to come and share Christmas dinner and the gifts, treats, and really healthy food made the little ones very happy.” —The N. Family