Peter Shokeir | [email protected]
The community is once again coming together to ensure all local families and individuals have food and gifts to enjoy this holiday season.
Each year, individuals, businesses and organizations help raise funds in their own unique ways to ensure Santas Anonymous remains a success.
鈥淭he Jasper Santas Anonymous program aims to provide assistance to local families and individuals during the holiday season,鈥� organizers wrote in an email.
鈥淥ur overarching goal is to ensure all Jasperites can experience the magic of the holiday season.鈥�
Santas Anonymous is one of many community-driven initiatives organized by the Jasper Community Team Society (JCTS) with support from Community Outreach Services and the Municipality of Jasper.
Organizers say fundraising has been great so far, noting how last year鈥檚 project was a record-breaking fundraising year, mainly due to the help of the December Project and other initiatives.
This year, the goal is to get everyone involved 鈥� parents, kids, teens and seniors.
COVID-19 has led to challenges for Santas Anonymous over the past two years, since major fundraising events in the past required large public gatherings.
Organizers highlighted the efforts of Santas Anonymous co-ordinator Maryln Fernandez, the JCTS Santas Anonymous Committee and the municipality鈥檚 Community Development Team when it came to adapting to the ever-changing health restrictions.
鈥淚n addition to this, we are extremely grateful to all the businesses, individuals and organizations that have supported this program,鈥� organizers added.
鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 make it possible without all our community partners.鈥�
There are a number of ways to participate in Santas Anonymous:
- Select a mitten from the mitten lines at the Library, Jasper Activity Centre or Community Outreach Services (627 Patricia). Each mitten details the Christmas wish of a local individual so that you can shop for that person.
- Take the SunDog connector to Edmonton any time between Dec. 7-14 and they will donate a percentage of the fare to Santas.
- Dance your butt off at a Zumba session with Settlement Services on Dec. 3 or 10. Entry is by donation with proceeds going to Santas Anonymous.
- Donate a toonie and wear your ugly holiday sweater on the community-wide Ugly Holiday Sweater Day on Dec. 17.
- Attend the World Tree Lighting on Dec. 10 and enjoy hot apple cider, hot chocolate and sweet treats by donation with proceeds going to Santas Anonymous.
- Purchase a chocolate bar or tree ornament from Glendas, Mountain Air, Mettra Pharmacy, Pharmasave, Nutters, Jasper General Store, Ransom or Wild Orchid and support Santas Anonymous.
- Deck the Halls of The Grocery People (TGP) with snowflakes $10, snowmen $25 and Santas $50. All proceeds go to Santas Anonymous.
Other initiatives include the Youth Community Helper鈥檚 candy grams, CN Rail Christmas in Jasper on Dec. 19, Wicked Coffee Photo Booth at WickedCup, and Pursuit Collection fundraiser
Businesses and other advertisers can also book a Season鈥檚 Greetings with the 51暗网, with half of all proceeds going to Santas Anonymous.
Book a Season鈥檚 Greeting by emailing [email protected]
Those wishing to receive gifts this year are asked to call 780-852-2100, and outreach worker will help them fill out the application form.
The deadline to register is Dec. 10.
To stay up to date on all the events and initiatives happening around town, follow
