One of the most anticipated events of the pre-Christ- mas season – the Voice of English-speaking Québec Holiday Happy Hour – was held at the Morrin Centre to support the 30th annual Quebec City Community Christmas Hamper Campaign (CCHC) on Dec. 3.

Nearly 150 people gathered for a delightful, delicious cinq- à-sept in College Hall of the historic building, all looking forward to meeting and greeting their friends and neighbours to wish them the best for the holiday season.

“I’ve never seen so many people here as I have this year,” said attendee Sharon MacLeod. “It’s amazing! It’s a delight to walk around and see people I haven’t seen in a while, even years!”

CBC Radio, one of the major sponsors of the event, was present, interviewing people about their favourite memories of past years, what they are looking forward to in the new year and what the Community Christmas Hamper Campaign means to them.

Toe-tapping entertainment was provided by the Celtic music trio Irish Tree – Mike Labonté, Frédéric Drouin and Olivier Leclerc – courtesy of CBC Radio.

Santa Claus (Paul Williamson), with his naturally white beard and hair, took some time to enjoy the event before hitching up his reindeer to help deliver hampers in Quebec City on Dec. 20. Originally from Hamilton, Ont., and a member of the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve, Williamson is in his third year as the Community Christmas Hamper Campaign’s Santa.

VEQ administrative assistant Maria Hoyt was happy to report on Dec. 8 that the final count from the event was $548.05 from the sale of raffle tickets and $829.24 at the bar for a grand total of $1,377.29 – another successful event for the Community Christmas Hamper Campaign!

Thank you to everyone who has helped this campaign, which this year will distribute hampers to some 250 house- holds in need. We are almost halfway to our $50,000 goal to help purchase the fresh fruit, meats, vegetables and dairy products that are included in each set of hamper boxes. It’s not too late to contribute! Please help put us over the top before the end of December.

Thank you so much to all who are organizing a fundraiser to support the 30th annual Québec City Community Christmas Hamper Campaign! Here’s what we know so far about what’s happening this year:

R.I.S.E. is holding a Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix Jar Sale. Visit wejh.ca/cookie-mix-jars-sale for details on how to order yours now!

A Christmas Market was held at Saint Brigid’s Home on Nov. 27.

Voice of English-speaking Québec is holding its annual Holiday Happy Hour at the Morrin Centre on Dec. 3 from 5 – 7 p.m. Admission is free, but space is limited. Please register by calling or emailing Maria Hoyt at 418-683-2366, ext. 221, or maria.hoyt@veq.ca. If you can’t be there in person, please make an online donation at qchampers.ca.

Philip Goyer is running a 21-kilometre half-marathon in a Grinch suit in support of the CCHC on Dec. 6.

Voice of English-speaking Québec is also holding its Oh Deer! Holiday Dares challenge.

To find out more, follow the CCHC by liking our Facebook page (facebook.com/qchampers. ca) and by checking out the VEQ online events calendar (veq.ca/events) or the QCT Community Calendar (qctonline.com/event).

Would you like to help us fundraise with a special event in your circles? Please consult our Guide to Hosting a Third-Party Fundraising Event document available on our website (qchampers.ca) in PDF format.

Please also read our Brand Guidelines document. If you have any questions, contact us at info@jhpartners.net.

If you are planning a fundraiser, please also let us know at give@qchampers.ca so that we can help get the word out on our website and Facebook page.

The Community Christmas Hamper Campaign (CCHC) was the “star” of the annual Holiday Happy Hour hosted by Voice of English-speaking Québec (VEQ) at the Morrin Centre on Dec. 4.

Those who attended appreciated the opportunity to get together with friends during the prelude to the holiday season while also raising money for the CCHC which helps feed families in need over the holidays. In addition to receiving a chance to win a cheery houseplant door prize, attendees were encouraged to leave some “turkey tips” as they purchased a drink at the bar and raffle tickets for a host of gifts contributed by sponsors such as CBC Radio. There was a tasty buffet as well as delicious hot hors-d’oeuvres which were passed around by VEQ volunteers who were there to welcome attendees and prepare and serve food. 

Local Celtic music trio Irish Tree made spirits bright with trad-Québécois interpretations of seasonal holiday songs.

Brigitte Wellens, executive director of VEQ and spokesperson for the CCHC, said, “Some of our challenges this year – and there always seem to be one or two – are increased requests for a hamper, rising food costs and of course, the postal strike. Online donations are a better option than ever, but you can always deliver your cheque in person to the reception counter of the Wellness Centre in the Jeffery Hale Pavilion at 1270, chemin Sainte-Foy from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Be sure to put your cheque in an envelope and write Community Christmas Hamper Campaign on it.”

Wellens added, “There is a 15 per cent increase in the demand from recipients this year, almost 270, some from people who have never requested a hamper before who are asking for a hamper now, even from people who have full-time jobs or newcomers who just came here but can’t access francisation classes or can’t find a job.

But I think the community will come together and we’ll make it happen. There are challenges but we have good traction. The International Lunch was very well attended. Every little bit helps!”

Visit the CCHC website at qchampers.ca to donate to the campaign and learn about other upcoming fundraising events.

Disclosure: QCT assistant copy editor Shirley Nadeau is also a member of the CCHC organizing committee and has been the chair of the committee for the past 14 years.