Volunteers step up during Christmas Hope Campaign

By Lethbridge Herald on January 9, 2026.

Submitted photo courtesy of Volunteer Lethbridge. Volunteer LethbridgeÕs volunteers stand by their Gift Wrapping station during the Christmas holidays as part of the Christmas Hope Campaign at Park Place Mall.

By Alejandra- Pulido Guzman

Lethbridge Herald

For Volunteer Lethbridge, the Christmas Hope Campaign brought thousands of volunteer hours spread across the campaign partners and their own Gift Wrapping program. 

Executive Director Sandi Davies said the Christmas Hope Campaign was a powerful reminder of what is possible when a community comes together with generosity and compassion. 

“This year, hundreds of volunteers gave their time, energy, and care to ensure individuals and families felt supported during what can be a very difficult season,” said Davies. 

She said volunteers were at the heart of the Christmas Hope campaign from organizing donations and preparing hampers, to delivering gifts and offering a kind word. 

“Their efforts went far beyond logistics. They created moments of dignity, connection, and hope. For many recipients knowing that someone in their community cared enough to show up made all the difference,” said Davies. 

She said they are deeply grateful to every volunteer who stepped forward and help turn generosity into real, meaningful support for their neighbors. 

“We had 1,379 volunteers this year and they put over 11,000 volunteer hours. This was an increase of 88 volunteers from 2024. We had more volunteers, but there was a slight decrease in the volunteer hours this year so that was quite surprising,” said Davies. 

She said when she talked to the other Christmas Hope Campaign partners, they believe this to be the result of realignment of services. 

“There wasn’t as many toys going out this year because we realigned some of the resources with the outlying community, but there was more hampers and more food deliveries this year, so that affected the hours that were put in,” said Davies. 

When speaking about Gift Wrapping, Davies said they were back at Park Place Mall for the whole month of December. 

“We had volunteers and staff wrapping presents for the entire month and it was all done by donations. We wanted to ensure that people had access to have their gifts wrapped regardless of where they were financially,” said Davies. 

She said they changed it from previous years where gift wrapping was priced based on gift sizes, to be done by donation.  

“We had just under 500 customers wrapped almost 1,500 gifts,” said Davies. 

She said they decided to go back to the Park Place Mall after doing the Gift Wrapping at Canadian Tire South the year before, due to the location and conversations with Canadian Tire about the space not being big enough for gift wrapping comfortably. 

“The space wasn’t quite as spacious for our staff and volunteers to set up tables and have all the gifts and they felt that it was a little constricting with us being in that space. So, it was mutually decided that we wouldn’t go back,” said Davies. 

She explained the conversation was amicable and Canadian Tire donated a large amount of wrapping paper and bows to them so they could carry on with them in their hearts. 

“And the mall welcomed us back with open arms. They were thrilled to have us back because quite a few people in the community were asking where we were,” said Davies.