Paris volunteer gives back to the Christmas Hamper Program that helped shape her childhood
- Casandra Turnbull
- 14 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Casandra Turnbull
Managing Editor
For many families in Paris, the Christmas Hamper Program is more than a box of food and toys. It is a gesture of hope, dignity and community at a time of year when those things matter most. Few understand that more deeply than Tricia Meadows, a long-time volunteer who once received a hamper as a child.
Meadows grew up in a household where money was tight, but love was abundant. Her mother, Krystyna Hoffman, became a single parent at 19, working full-time while studying to complete high school and later pursue post-secondary education. They lived with Tricia’s grandmother and great-grandmother, three generations supporting one another through the ups and downs.
“When it came to Christmas time things were always extremely tight,” Meadows recalled. “I remember every year getting these gifts.”
Among her clearest memories is the annual chicken that arrived in their hamper, an item her family cherished because they seldom had access to a complete meal with protein.
“Mom would make a special dinner and it was always a big celebration for us,” she said.
Those early holiday dinners, made possible by strangers in her community, sparked a family tradition Meadows continues today. “It’s still my favourite meal. I make the exact same dinner for my kids now.”
As the program has evolved, today’s hampers now include a grocery voucher so families can purchase a turkey or ham, along with all the fixings for a full Christmas meal plus toys for each child, and warm hats and mitts generously knitted by community members.
What Meadows didn’t know as a young child was the true source of those gifts, the Barbie dolls she adored, the toys she unwrapped, the dinner they shared. In her teen years, her mother gently explained that the magic of Christmas morning had come from the generosity of the hamper program. That revelation, Meadows said, changed everything.
“I remember never feeling like we were poor or struggling,” she said. “I had an extremely happy childhood, and I believe it was because of the support of the community helping my mom when she really needed it. The hampers shaped the Christmas memories I have today.”
Her mother passed away in 2013, leaving Meadows with a lasting sense of gratitude and an unmistakable calling to give back.
“I started volunteering for this program over 14 years ago because I wanted to give back to the community that helped me grow up into the person that I am,” she said.
Now a mother of two, Meadows brings her children - 17 and 15 - to sorting nights each December. For them, volunteering is as natural as the holiday season itself.
“They’ve come with me since they were little. They still look forward to it,” she said. “If they donate their time at a young age, that spirit will continue throughout their lifetime.”
Sorting week is famously fast-paced, with more than 100 volunteers working side by side to prepare hampers for more than 150 local families.
“Sorting night is (organized) chaos, but everyone just wants to help,” she said. “It’s so nice to be around. The volunteers are all there for a good cause.”
She believes the real strength of the program lies in the diversity of people who contribute from students, service clubs, first responders, sports teams, businesses, churches to families of every background.
It’s the sense of community, people coming together from all walks of life, that makes this program amazing. Some might even call it a Christmas miracle.
As Paris continues to grow, Meadows hopes newcomers will understand the spirit behind the program and the families who use it.
“We are equals. We are a community,” she said firmly. “Sometimes people go through hard times. We need to support each other, and ultimately the goal is to let the kids have one time a year when they are spoiled. They deserve that.”
She hopes the community will continue breaking down the stigma of asking for help. “It’s hard to raise kids and it’s okay to rely on help,” she said.
The intergenerational nature of the program is something Meadows finds especially meaningful. Some of today’s organizers are children or grandchildren of past volunteers, a reminder that kindness often becomes a family legacy.
For Meadows, finding the words to thank donors can feel impossible.
“I look at myself as a child and think how things could have been different if the program wasn’t available,” she said. “You don’t realize that a small donation can have such a big impact on somebody and how that impact will help build their character.”
Her own character, she said, was shaped in part by the generosity of strangers who ensured her mother didn’t have to shoulder the holidays alone.
“The traditions I carry on today come from the memories I have because of the hamper program,” she said. “It’s comfort and happiness.”