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Chilliwack Community Services does almost everything Santa does, but without Santa’s workshop.

“Every year, we look for space for our Christmas hampers and it’s a real challenge,” said Shirley Triemstra, fundraising co-ordinator for CCS. “This year, we feel like we hit the jackpot.”

CCS and Chilliwack Salvation Army operate the annual Christmas Sharing program, providing hampers of food, toys and gifts for more than 600 families during the holiday season. It’s always a challenge finding affordable temporary space to store goods and assemble the hampers during the busy and brief Christmas season. Properties are either too expensive or the space isn’t big enough.

This year, the BC Labourers’ Union (LiUNA Local 1611) and the Teamsters Local 213 stepped up not only to offer their new building in Chilliwack’s industrial area for free but to contribute $10,000 to the program.

“The space is amazing and we are just so grateful,” said Triemstra. “I feel really lucky to have met them – they were willing to do whatever it took to make this happen."

The building is the future home of the unions’ trades training and resource centre, set to open in 2024. 

“We are part of the Chilliwack community now and contributing space to CCS to do its important work was a small way to support our community,” said Nav Malhotra, Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer of LiUNA Local 1611.

Teamsters Local 213 Secretary-Treasurer Tony Santavenere couldn’t agree more.

“We know that the holidays can be a difficult time for many people,” said Santavenere. “Thanks to our members, we are in a position to help people in our communities who need support like this.” 

The Salvation Army provides families with the food portion of the hamper and CCS provides the toy/gift portion for children up to 18 years old. Hampers were distributed on Dec. 19.