Share The Spirit Christmas Hamper Campaign Launched at SOWINS

So soon. So soon? So soon! Though Christmas comes but once a year, for the South Okanagan Women in Need Society (SOWINS), it comes early. Its’ fall, which means its’ “Share the Spirit” time! As the autumn harvest is ending, the gathering of gifts and goods for Christmas for our clients begins.   

Share the Spirit Hampers provide gifts and food for women and children clients to ensure they have a merry Christmas. Businesses, organizations, schools, workplace staff and individuals are invited to take the hamper challenge. The way it works is a needy woman facing domestic abuse - with or without children – submits an anonymous wish list. The list is matched with an anonymous donor and the filled hamper is delivered to a drop off point and then delivered to the woman or family by our volunteers.  

For a full hamper we suggest $60 worth of groceries for a single woman and $125 for a mother with two children. We welcome new unwrapped gifts, nonperishable food items, personal care products, local retail gift certificates, as well as monetary donations. Gift certificates for teens are especially appreciated. Last year, approximately 100 women and their children benefitted from the generosity of our community through the campaign. To sponsor a hamper for a family or single woman please contact Liz at (250)493-4366 ext 102, or e-mail sharethespirit@sowins.com Instructions are also available online at www.sowins.com Those wanting to sponsor hampers are asked to contact us by December 7^th.  

 Individual donations are also encouraged. These will be combined into hampers or may also be used as gifts for the SOWINS’ kids Christmas party, or as gifts for women and their children staying at the emergency Transition House over the holidays. Individual donations and monetary contributions can be dropped off from Nov 5^th through Dec 7^th in Penticton at SOWINS offices 218 -246 Martin St. (M – F, 10-4 pm) or at WINGS Thrift Store 456 Main St. (M – Sat, 10-4 pm) 

There are many ways to help out with Share The Spirit, please contact Bethany at 250-493-4366 (ext 105) or volcoord@sowins.com to find out how.