The recent snowstorm has forced the Winkler and District Christmas Cheer Board to start delivering food hampers early this afternoon. The Cheer Board is hoping to begin deliveries at 2:00 p.m today.

A new plan was enacted this morning to start carting the roughly 325 hampers around Winkler and to several villages in the area, but the cheer board is asking for people's help.

"There [is] a big call-out for people with all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive vehicles," said Frances Fehr, president of the Winker and District Christmas Cheer Board.

Fehr is hoping to have most of the packages in the hands of the families before sun down tonight. He emphasized that safety for the drivers is the top priority.

"We would love to see not just one person in the vehicle if they're going to go out of town," Fehr said. That way there is a team of people to help if a driver should get stuck.

The blizzard, and subsequent road-closures, has locked some people in their homes, so they are more likely to be home when food hampers are delivered.

Anyone interested in helping can contact the Winkler Mennonite Brethren Church.