Norquay’s Helping Hands program grows to meet community need

NORQUAY — The community of Norquay has banded together to help support those in need through the Helping Hands program.

The program originated through the SGI insurance agencies in Norquay, known today as Lakeview Insurance. Reagan Foster and her colleagues wanted a way to give back and help those in need at Christmas time. In 2019, they collected donations and managed to give out eight hampers to families needing help feeding their loved ones during the holidays.

“The program has grown from feeding eight families to almost 30 hampers at Christmas time. We also give 5–10 monthly emergency hampers out to families in the area,” said Foster. “At Christmas time, we also give gifts to the children. We have had an anonymous donor helping to sponsor the program, plus Pro Soils, but for the most part, it is funded through donations and our fundraiser of selling potted poinsettia plants. Through this fundraiser, we can support local families in need through food hampers, gifts, grocery cards and warm clothing,” she concluded.

The Norquay Helping Hands area includes Norquay, Pelly, Hyas, Danbury and Stenen, and the group works in conjunction with Filling the Gap Food Bank, which has since been reorganized.