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YFNED kicks off fifth-annual winter hamper program

Friday, 6 December 2024 12:15

YFNED's Nutrition Team unload winter hampers to hand out to Whitehorse families with Indigenous children under 18 at Shipyards Park. (Photo: P. Wilson)

"We try to support local as much as we can." - YFNED Acting Director of First Nation Initiatives Kim Rumley

The Yukon First Nations Education Directorate kicked off its annual winter hamper program, yesterday.  As part of the nutrition program funded by Jordan’s Principle, YFNED gives out winter food hampers to families with Indigenous children under 18.

YFNED’s acting Director of First Nation Initiatives Kim Rumley is one of the program’s organizers. She and the Nutrition Team have been planning this year’s hamper distribution since April, and she says that it couldn’t be done without community partners.

“We buy the food through Save On Foods,” said Rumley. “and Pacific Northwest Transport, they drive down to Smithers and they pick up all the food for us. And then we also buy from local vendors as well, like Beans North, Kettle Corn, [and] Yukon Organics. So, we try to support local as much as we can.”

“All the food is shipped up to Whitehorse, and then from Whitehorse we contract some of the smaller freight companies to get it out to the communities for us, and of course Air North for Old Crow.”

Rumley says that the communities – including Old Crow, Watson Lake, Beaver Creek, Burwash, Teslin, and Haines Junction – will be receiving their hampers over the next two weeks.

Generosity and kindness are key themes during the holiday season, but through the winter hamper program, Rumley can see the benefit that they bring to families across the territory.

“So many of our people are suffering right now,” said Rumley. “There’s been so much loss, and people are struggling financially. You know, you go down there, and it’s so gratifying just to be able to give people food.”

Families who would benefit from winter hampers can still register to pick them up at yfned.ca/winterhampers. Pickups continue today and December 14 and 15 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Shipyards Park in Whitehorse.

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