The need for a little extra help around the holidays is being felt more so this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, there are ways residents can get a helping hand.
Food Link Chatham-Kent has released a list of all the organizations providing Christmas hampers and holiday meals. The list Christmas Baskets 2020 includes information on how to register for supports and when to do so.
Public Health Dietitian Lyndsay Davidson said the need for support in Chatham-Kent is going up.
"Many of the organizations are already anticipating large increases this year and are trying to get ready for it," she said. "So we want to make sure that everyone in the community knows that these resources are available to anyone that needs the supports."
For residents who would like to donate to a local organization, Davidson said some sought-after items for Christmas hampers include holiday food items, hygiene items, and items for children and youth.
"It could be toys, it could be books, puzzles, craft supplies, games, [organizations] are looking for anything that would be good for Christmas or the holidays," she said. "Those age groups vary depending on the organization, from babies and some of them go up to even 15 years old."
Davidson said that aside from services that are specifically geared for the holidays, there are supports that are offered throughout the year.
"Whether they are our food banks, our meal programs, all kinds of organizations that might do vouchers... whatever those needs may be, we have all of that information on our website for anyone who might need those resources," said Davidson.
One change noted this year is that a physical paper copy of the Meal Calendar, which includes information on meal programs and soup kitchens, will not be printed and distributed. Davidson said due to ongoing updates and changes in services, it's better to keep the up-to-date information online.
