Christmas Hampers for Lytton & Merritt - Update Dec. 17, 2021

Christmas Hampers for Lytton and Merritt
From Packaging to Delivery – Plan A, Plan B, and Plan G 

Updated: December 17, 2021

During the last three weeks we have been busy getting the Christmas Hampers ready for delivery. Our original estimate was to have 60 hampers for Lytton. With the flood in Merritt, we decided to expand our Christmas Hampers campaign to broaden our support. By the November 30 deadline, we have received a total of 235 hamper sponsors. To get the hampers ready we mobilized five teams: Purchasing Team, Packaging Team, Decorating Team, Christmas Cards Team, and Delivery Team. We received participation and support from other Metro Vancouver churches and strangers when they heard about our initiative. In addition, we were able to connect with Lytton First Nation Emergency Operations Centre to provide hampers for the Lytton evacuees staying in Camp Hope and Kamloops.

Delivery Challenges
One of the biggest challenges we have is to deliver the 200-plus hampers to Merritt and Lytton. Each hamper is 3 cu. ft. in size and weighs about 25 lbs. This translates to 600 cu. ft. and over 2.5 tons of boxes for the delivery. Due to the closure of Hwy 1 (Trans Canada) and Hwy 5 (Coquihalla), only essential travel is allowed on Hwy 3 through Princeton. Travel time to Merritt and Lytton is more than doubled to over 7 hours.

From Plan A to Plan B
We decided to hire a moving company to deliver the 200 hampers to Merritt and Lytton on Saturday December 11. To help reduce the moving cost, we were going to help load the moving truck. This was Plan A. However, two hours before the loading on Friday December 10, we were informed by the mover that due to their miscalculation, they must increase the cost by $800. Consequently, we switched our attention to working with another trucking company. This was Plan B. In the meantime, one of our church members offered to cover the $800.

God Had His Own Plan
On Sunday morning December 12, we received an unexpected phone call from West Coast Pilot Club. They told us that they have heard about our situation and offered to deliver the hampers to Merritt and Lytton for us free of charge.  All we need to do is to bring the 200 hampers to their hangar in Langley Airport. With the help of several church members, we did the delivery, and all the hampers will be on their way to Lytton and Merritt this week weather permitting. This is God’s Plan – Plan G! 

Please join us in thanking God for His perfect plan:
“This plan of mine is not what you would work out, neither are my thoughts the same as yours! For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than yours, and my thoughts than yours.”  Isaiah 55:8, 9 Living Bible 

Ongoing Support
We anticipate the road to Lytton will be repaired in the new year and will resume our regular supply deliveries to Lytton. Please continue to support us with your prayer and donation. Encourage others to do so. As usual, our pantry is empty after our last trip.

As a result of our connection with Lytton First Nation Emergency Operations Centre, we will be working with them to support the 22 evacuee families staying in Camp Hope. Please contact us if you would like to participate.

Click here for the latest updates.

Previous Updates:

• Help for Lytton Fire Evacuees Update - December 3, 2021
• Help for Lytton Fire Evacuees Update - November 5, 2021
• Help for Lytton Fire Evacuees Update - October 15, 2021
• Help for Lytton Fire Evacuees Update - September 14, 2021
• Help for Lytton Fire Evacuees Update - August 27, 2021
• Help for Lytton Fire Evacuees Update - August 13, 2021
• Donations for Lytton Evacuees Update - July 8, 2021