The Yellowknife Salvation Army traded in a sleigh for a plane when the non-profit played Santa Claus over the holidays, handing out food and gifts to remote communities in need.
Sally Ann's long-running Christmas Fly Out Hampers initiative SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½“ operating under the Salvation Army's Alberta and Northern Territories Division SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½“ sees donation-stuffed hampers delivered throughout the territory, within a 500-kilometre radius of Yellowknife.
This year, the annual fly-out saw 250 hampers filled with Christmas dinner ingredients, recipes, magazines and calenders given to deserving families, stated a media release from the Yellowknife Salvation Army.
Annual hamper handouts focus on small, often isolated communities and villages SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½“ with populations ranging from 250 and 1,900 SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½“ where residents might face challenges accessing certain goods SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½“ a challenge that's heightened during the holiday season.
Yellowknife Salvation Army co-director Darlene Hardy stated the initiative has many sponsors, including a local food supplier, Air Tindi and NWT Power Corporation.
"This could not happen without the support of the community," stated Hardy in a news release. "The people in these remote communities really look forward to receiving these hampers."
Hardy said kids toys could make an appearance in next year's fly-out food hampers.