The program originally began as the All They Want for Christmas Campaign in 1998. In 2019, the organizers recognized the need for families to be provided with food all year long. The Hands & Hearts Food Program was created to fill that need with Virginia Worcester as Founder/Program Coordinator with administrative and volunteer support from the Qualicum School District.

Days Without Hunger

The concept is simple: children at risk of hunger receive a bag of food that is child-friendly, nutritious and non-perishable. Food hampers are filled by volunteers and delivered to the families through the School District so families can prepare nutritious healthy meals every day of the week.

Spring and Summer Break

Prior to spring break, families are provided with enough non-perishable food to assist with meals over the two weeks that school is not in session.

During the week prior to the summer break, families are also provided with one final large food hamper of staples to support them over the two summer break months.

All They Want for Christmas

In keeping with the original charity, each year, during the last week of school prior to the winter school break, families are provided with a month’s worth of non-perishable food as well as all the necessary items for a turkey dinner.

This assists the families with meals during the time schools are closed over the winter break as well as providing them with the items for a special holiday meal.