Image Credit: Kent Simmonds / CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

CHRISTMAS AMALGAMATED

Registration and donation drop-off opens for Christmas Amalgamated

Nov 19, 2025 | 4:33 PM

KAMLOOPS — Christmas Amalgamated is now open for the season in Kamloops, accepting applications from families and donations from the community.

CFJC went over to the organization’s pop-up headquarters this week, and for its 49th year, Christmas Amalgamated is running like a well-oiled machine.

Coordinator Sally Whitson is steadily piecing together gift baskets, volunteers are sorting donations and sign-ups are steadily rolling in.

“People who need help providing Christmas for their families come and see us and we provide them with all the gifts for their children, and then we provide them with everything they need for their Christmas dinner, which gets delivered usually right to their doors just about a week before Christmas,” explains Whitson.

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Christmas Amalgamated does this for upwards of 2,000 families each year. More clients are expected this year, though, as a result of the rising cost of living.

“That’s a good possibility, so we’re preparing for it just in case,” says Whitson.

On the other side though, she says she has noticed former clients becoming donors or volunteers.

“I really like to see someone who comes back years later to make a donation because at some point in time, they needed help,” she notes.

Work stations at the Christmas Amalgamated headquarters are busy, while residents and businesses from around the region pitch in to get supplies and donations delivered.

“They put all their hampers together and it takes all of their volunteers. And then there’s volunteers who are working with other organizations to collect all the toys for us,” says Whitson. “It does take a huge amount of manpower to do this.”

Registration for families is open between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Cooper Centre on Windsor Avenue, and any questions can be called in at 250-376-0777.