Joanne McQuarrie, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | [email protected]
The kindness and generosity of the Jasper community has shone brightly through the darkness of the COVID pandemic, and the Christmas season is no exception.
That鈥檚 what the Jasper Community Team Society (JCTS) has experienced as it oversees the operation of Santas Anonymous this winter.
鈥淲e鈥檙e blown away by the incredible support from business and community members,鈥� said Leslie Dolan, co-chair and member of the Santas Anonymous committee.
Dolan said the society was expecting it to be a challenge, raising funds and getting donations, because of the pandemic.
鈥淧eople have opened their hearts and their wallets,鈥� she said.
鈥淭he financial donations allow us to share some light and cheer for people experiencing isolation and separation from loved ones. That could be family, it could be friends, it could be someone across the street.鈥�
Dolan pointed out a vast majority of the donations came from local businesses - and much of the money was spent locally too.
She noted groups who are making a positive difference in town, including the Jasper Food Recovery program, the Jasper Food Bank and Coco鈥檚 Cafe, who, 鈥渟tepped up to doing dinners on Christmas Day - unbelievable鈥�.
鈥淎nother thing we鈥檙e excited about is the December Project,鈥� Dolan said.
Hundreds of Jasperites signed up for the resurrected December Project this year, pledging to take part in 20 minutes of physical activity each day in December for a minimum $20 donation to Santas Anonymous. Already, the initiative has raised more than $15,000 for the cause.
鈥淧eople are taking the time to share both their enthusiasm and their vulnerability, moving their body, fostering wellness,鈥� Dolan said.
鈥淚t normalizes the pressures and challenges that we鈥檙e all facing. It invites us to join together, be reminded of what鈥檚 important: belonging, caring for each other.鈥�
And that鈥檚 what Santas Anonymous is all about.
Dolan said when people think of Santas Anonymous, they think of children. But the program also serves other people who you don鈥檛 always think of.
鈥淚 think what people need to feel is a sense of belonging,鈥� Dolan said. 鈥淚f, in some way, the Santas Anonymous program helps, then we have served our purpose. People feel like they matter.鈥�
It is a program found in a lot of communities but executed in different ways, depending on the community.
Santas Anonymous in Jasper, Dolan said, has been an effective group for about 30 years.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really changed and grown over the years,鈥� she said.
Dolan said Jasper has an eclectic demographic, which could have led to people being separate from each other.
鈥淏ut there鈥檚 been a large number of people who worked tirelessly for decades to create connection,鈥� she said.
The Santas Anonymous campaign is just one initiative of the JCTS, a registered fundraising society and charity that works in partnership with Community Outreach Services (COS).
JCTS raises funds and awareness to help ease small but significant barriers to wellness, from financial difficulty to mental health.
鈥淭he society seeks to enhance and augment the program and services offered through the Municipality of Jasper鈥檚 Community and Family Services,鈥� Dolan explained.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an amazing partnership because we have the opportunity to engage the community to work with diverse groups to create home-grown solutions.鈥�
