Hundreds of families in a Manitoba Cree Nation will be without food hampers this holiday season after a funding request was denied — but the food will instead help feed people at a Winnipeg homeless shelter.

The season of giving continues as the Ma Mawi Chi Itata centre hosted their 23rd annual Christmas hamper drive Saturday, bringing holiday cheer to 200 indigenous families across Winnipeg.

“The Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre translates from Ojibwe to we all work together to help one another, so this is really part of what Ma Mawi Wi is and it’s important that at those times when families most struggle that were there to help support them,” said Tammy Christensen, Executive Director, Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre.

Along with the 200 Christmas hampers full of all the fixings for a holiday dinner, over 500 gifts were handed out to ensure each child in the household has a surprise to open on Christmas morning.

“You see these little faces at the door, and they see you coming to deliver them and see you carrying the toys and they’re so excited they want to open the gifts right away,” said Marion McKenzie, a Volunteer.

“I get so emotional every time we talk about the hampers because it’s so important for our community,” added Marion.

“Getting to do this part with our community and then going out to deliver and see the impact it has on people; it just means the world and it’s my favourite time during the holiday season to get to do this,” said Katie McKenzie, a Volunteer.

The McKenzie’s, who have this day marked on their calendar each year, were joined by dozens of other volunteers who spent their morning preparing the hampers at R.B. Russell High School. Once all the boxes were packed and ready to go, volunteers from the community lined the streets in their vehicles to deliver the hampers to the designated households.

“It tells me Christmas spirit is live and well and it’s just wonderful to see so many of our volunteers but also so many young children today here helping. I think it’s just a wonderful message for those families and I think they’re getting so much out of it, as much as our families will,” said Christensen.

“To see their smiling faces when you go to the doorway and they receive their packages, it’s just the best feeling, that’s my Christmas,” said Brian, a Volunteer.

With the cost of inflation, Christensen says they’ve seen an increase of families in need, making this annual event even more important during the holiday season.

“It’s a tough time of year we’ve seen the economy, the cost of living has risen so it just makes it a little bit more challenging for families and this year again it’s just wonderful to be able to provide those families with a full packed Christmas hamper,” said Christensen.

Following another successful Christmas hamper drive, the Ma Mawi Chi Itata Centre say they plan to continue this holiday tradition for many years to come.

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