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Christmas Cheer Board



The Cheer Board was started in 1919 by a number of Winnipeg churches. The original intent was to provide Christmas Hampers and toys for the widows and orphans of the soldiers lost during World War One.

The churches operated as a loose group for many years and realized very quickly that there were many other families in the community that also needed help at Christmas. As the project grew it became necessary for the churches to work with each other in order to coordinate the Christmas giving in the community. In the mid-forties the churches decided that everything should be brought into one organization in order to better look after needy families in our community.

The Christmas Cheer Board attempts to coordinate all Christmas giving in order to eliminate duplications.

The Cheer Board provides assistance to families receiving Provincial Assistance as well many of the working poor.

More than half of all the food and toys are donated by individuals and companies, the balance of everything that is required is purchased by the Cheer Board.

Volunteers look after all aspects of the Cheer Board and involves almost 5000 people. Hampers are packed by school children, seniors knit all year to provide little extra gifts, volunteer drivers deliver all the hampers and individuals, community groups and companies help raise the money needed.



It was a terrific year! We were able to raise enough money to pay for all the turkeys, toys and groceries needed. We finished with a small surplus which will be used next Christmas. We distributed 18,662 hampers with an approximate value of $1,931,000.00.

The total number of people assisted was 48,343 which includes over 20,000 children.



The Christmas Cheer Board of Winnipeg delivered $2 million worth of food and gifts this year, thanks to generous Winnipeggers.

Kai Madsen, who heads the seasonal charity, expects cash donations to keep coming in over the next few weeks. That's because the organization has only received 65 five per cent of the cash it needs to cover this year's bills. But Madsen isn't worried. He said Friday that many fundraising bodies forward their donations to the board after Christmas. Volunteers delivered about 18,000 food and gift hampers to needy families this year, the same amount as last year.

Madsen acknowledged there were some harried moments leading up to the big day.

"The first morning we were going to deliver hampers, we were hit with a blizzard and a couple of days of really extremely cold weather, and the number of drivers who indicated they'd be in to help decided they couldn't drive or it was too cold. So, yes, I saw all these hampers sitting on the floor and I'm saying, 'Oh my gosh, this is going to be a tough one.'"

However, volunteers rallied and got the job done. Madsen said about a dozen hampersstill needto be delivered, but that's because the families haven't been home.

For 32 years, Muriel Gale has been volunteering in the Christmas Cheer Board warehouse and she said it’s all because of her husband Edward.

“My husband heard Byrdye Beckel on the radio asking for volunteers so it’s all his fault I’m here!” laughed Gale, stopping momentarily between sorting toys and directing other volunteers who were wrapping and packaging items at the this year’s location at 1385 Ellice Avenue at Empress in the former S.I.R. Sporting Goods Store building. “He’s here also, he started with us in 1991. I’ve been at every warehouse since (1976).

“It’s the challenge of helping the kids. I know what it’s all about, I’m from Ireland and I know what it’s like to be poor and that’s what brings me back.”

Executive director Kai Madsen officially launched the 2008 Christmas Cheer Board on Tuesday and said he expects Christmas Cheer Board volunteers will pack and deliver about 19,000 hampers, which will assist close to 50,000 people this 2008 Christmas season.

That number is up from the 18,662 hampers delivered last year but it’s the first increase in two years.

“We bring together between 4,000 and 5,000 volunteers, that’s what it takes to run this place and we’ve become a big family, we have a great time and we encourage people to come down and see us,” said Madsen. “The thing that we like is we get an opportunity to see the very best in people whether it be people who are receiving a hamper or people who are helping to make it happen. It’s really nice to be involved in something that makes so many people feel this good.”

Jeanne Block is volunteering in her 15th year and said she would not be anywhere else at this time of year.

“After I finished work, I didn’t know what to do. I thought I’d try the Cheer Board. It’s such a good feeling, it gives you a reason to get up in the morning!” said Block, a mom of two grown children and grandmother of two with a third grandchild on the way.

“It’s giving things to other people who aren’t going to have anything (otherwise). They come to front door on a bike and just have nothing so you give them what you have.”

It is Madsen’s 39th year with the Christmas Cheer Board and 15th as executive director.

Madsen said he wanted to remind everyone that donations are what allows the Christmas Cheer Board to do its good work.

“We have to collect about 60 per cent of the things we use in the hampers as donations, whether it be groceries or toys, so we need people to be aware of the fact that we need their help,” he said, noting the Christmas Cheer Board must purchase the remaining 40 per cent of items with donated money.

People can bring donations of toys, food or money directly to the Christmas Cheer Board warehouse or drop off food items with any of the 27 Canada Safeway stores in Winnipeg. Cheques can also be mailed to the Free Press’s Spirit of Christmas fund, c/o the sports department, 1355 Mountain Ave., Winnipeg, Man., R2X 3B6.

Everyone wishing to volunteer to pack or deliver hampers is asked to call 989-5696.

Delivery begins on Dec. 13 and continues until every hamper has a home.

Cheer Board’s Most Wanted

Kai Madsen, executive director of the Christmas Cheer Board, needs your help.

While he is grateful for any donations, there are a few areas where the need is greater to make hampers special.

If you would like to assist, Madsen has some items on his “Most Wanted” list for the 2008 hampers:

Food: Canned fruit, chocolate, candy, nuts, gravy mix, stuffing mix.

For children (gifts are provided for ages 0-14 inclusive): Items in the $25 range for boys and girls especially in the 12-14 age group such as music CDs, DVD movies, 1-GB MP3 players.