Rural Frontenac Community Services

Since the lates 70s, low-income families have received assistance at Christmas. For several years the Salvation Army Kingston provided food hampers and toys. The number of hampers increased each year and in the mid 2000s Salvation Army Kingston could no longer support the northern area, so the Salvation Army Mississippi-Rideau Lakes Corps began providing the hampers and toys.

Prior to Covid, RFCS staff and volunteers would join the Salvation Army staff to pack hampers which then were delivered to Sharbot Lake, along with the toys. Hampers would be arranged on tables and labeled small, medium, large and extra-large and the hall was filled with toy bags. Hampers were distributed according to the size of the family. The Salvation Army volunteer distributed turkeys from the back of the truck which was parked in front of the hall.

In 2020, Salvation Army made the decision to give food vouchers to families instead of hampers; and toys were provided for the children.

In 2025 one hundred and twenty-one families received Christmas Assistance and 112 children were provided with toys.

Over the years several donations were received from local clubs, seniors’ groups and donors making our northern area families’ Christmas a much merrier one!

Thank you to the donors and the many volunteers who have contributed to the Rural Frontenac Community Services Christmas Assistance Program.

"It's wonderful to have a local program to assist families at Christmas"

"We have a great community in Sharbot Lake, supporting families to make Christmas special for everyone"