KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The effort to keep holiday traditions alive will take extra work this year thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.
Organizations that typically provide gifts and meals for local families are now forced to find new ways to satisfy the need, including Della Lamb Community Services.
Instead of hosting separate events for Operation Thanksgiving and Operation Santa, Della Lamb will host one 4-day drive-thru event, providing Thanksgiving meal items and gifts at the same time.
"The preparation leading up to this event changed this year because of COVID," Della Lamb executive director Ryan Hudnall said. "We've combined them this year to minimize contact with families and also try and get ahead of COVID with the winter months approaching."
While clothes and toys are already arriving in the organization's gym, Della Lamb is handling the food differently this year.
To reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19, it is not asking the public for food donations. Instead, the organization is accepting monetary donations and purchasing the holiday meal items from Save-A-Lot.
"We made a mass purchase of foods that will be delivered later this week and so any donations to help cover the cost of food and any toys that we don't have would be incredibly helpful."
In years past, families packed Della Lamb's gym to grab gifts for their children and teens, but this year, volunteers are preparing for a smoother and safer operation.
Families received an application number and specified gift requests when they registered. Donors can now purchase those items from Della Lamb's wishlist on Amazon. Once the gifts arrive, volunteers sort the items into categories and on the day of the event, they will serve as greeters, "holiday shoppers" or carhops.
"We'll be using a series of walkie talkies and volunteers... to take all the family's items from the gym out to the car," Hudnall said. "We want to make sure that the families are safe so we'll put the items directly in their backseat or their trunk."
While Hudnall believes this year's changes have made them more efficient, he also said there are challenges as the organization learns new ways to be welcoming and hospitable without handshakes and the usual gathering of families in in the gym.
"My hope is that in a time that we've felt separated and distanced that we still feel connected to our community. That's why this kind of event is so important," Hudnall said.
Based on this year's registrations, Della Lamb estimates the 2020 Operation Holidays event will cost approximately $70,000. To volunteer or make a monetary donation, click here.
The registration period ended early this year because the events are combined, but families in need can visit Della Lamb's food pantry Fridays from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
