They make a list and check it twice. Winnipeg’s Christmas Cheer Board will soon begin receiving applications for its seasonal baskets, and officials say this year they are working with other organizations to ensure families do not receive double or triple baskets from various support networks .

“Our goal is to really make sure that everyone who needs a basket can receive support through us,” Shawna Bell, executive director of the Cheer Board, said Monday.

Applications for the baskets open on November 5 and Bell explained that the decision was made during the organization’s 105th anniversary to ensure growing demand was met at all levels.

“What we’ve really done in this effort is to work with some organizations in the city, so that if baskets have been requested through other outlets, we remove them from our list,” he said. she declared.

“They always get support,” Bell said. “It’s just about making sure, in particular, if you look at last year, some people left with nothing, and that’s a terrible way to go into the holiday season, so we want to ensure that this does not happen.”

Bell says the first days of the campaign are always busy as families ask for support, noting that the Cheer Board is seeking contributions from the public in the form of cash donations, toys and food since in 2023, 20,500 baskets were distributed.

“We expect that number to climb to 21,000 this year,” Bell said.

While demand is high, Bell said, she expects Winnipeggers to step up in large numbers in 2024 to ensure city residents who may be struggling can get the help they need. need, saying that without government funding, it’s “a 100 percent community effort.”

“The old adage says it takes a village, and that’s certainly the case in this case, and Winnipeggers have always come together to support us year after year,” she said.

More information about the Christmas Cheer Board and how to apply or contribute can be found on the organization’s website. website.