Communities across Western Manitoba are busy collecting money, food items and gifts for their local Christmas Cheer programs and that includes Deloraine-Winchester.

This year 44 hampers will be delivered on December 13th.

Donalda Vandenberghe has been a volunteer for the past number of years, and she says they have a dedicated group of about a dozen workers who make the program happen each year. “With 44 hampers going out December 13th that’s about the same as the past number of years.”

Deloraine and Area Christmas Cheer serves Deloraine-Winchester, Waskada, Goodlands and Medora regions.

"We have about seven people this year adopting a hamper and they look after supplying the food items and gift for the hamper,” said Vandenberghe.

Volunteers will spend the next day or two picking up donation boxes that have been in place at participating businesses and stores.

“We’ll always take cash at the Credit Union and after this weekend we don’t want any more items dropped off anywhere because we won’t be able to use them.”