Christmas Hope Campaign comes through during holidays

By Lethbridge Herald on January 5, 2026.

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman

LETHBRIDGE HERALD

As many families continue to experience the impacts of economic instability, inflation, and the rising costs of living, many were struggling to put gifts under the tree and food on their table, but thanks to the Christmas Hope Campaign they had a Merry Christmas. 

The Interfaith Food Bank, MyCityCare Shop of Wonders, Salvation Army’s Toys for Tots, Lethbridge Food Bank, Volunteer Lethbridge, Lethbridge Senior Citizen Organization’s Golden Giving Tree, and the Lethbridge Family Services’ Angel Tree, helped lighten the burden of financial stress and brought the magic of Christmas to everyone. 

Danielle McIntyre, Interfaith Food Bank executive director and spokesperson for the Christmas Hope Campaign said they were able to project the results of the campaign quiet accurately. 

“We were able to help 8,800 individuals this Christmas collectively through Christmas Hope and that includes about 5,300 children and over 3,500 adults which includes 207 seniors this year because of the addition of the Golden Giving Tree,” said McIntyre.

She added that there was a slight decrease of about 430 individuals from 2024, primarily due to the realignment of service coverage by Toy Distribution partners and supports now offered in surrounding communities. 

“Basically, what happens is if the community doesn’t have a food bank or a social service program, they often come into Lethbridge to request that help,” said McIntyre. “And sometimes that means that community donations collected in Lethbridge are going to other communities outside.” 

McIntyre explained that as long as there are enough resources, they are happy to help, but when those communities start to have their own programs, they don’t want to duplicate.

She added that even though they saw a decrease in toy demand, they saw an increase in food demand, especially in single adults living alone. 

“We did see an increase in adults, 500 more adults were helped this year compared to last and that was an increase of 120 hampers from last year,” said McIntyre.

She said the success of the campaign was in big part due to the commitment shown by their volunteers throughout the campaign.  

“Almost 1,400 volunteers put in over 11,000 hours of service work during the month of December from donation to distribution of the toy bundles, gifts for seniors and food hampers,” said McIntyre.