The Christmas Cheer Board is in the middle of its 100th year of helping Winnipeggers celebrate Christmas together.

As of Friday morning, the Christmas Cheer Board has received 15,384 applications and is hoping to help families from neighbourhoods across the city "have a traditional Christmas dinner." The Cheer Board says people are accepted "for the most part" with the exception of duplications and are hoping to help as many families as the Cheer Board can.

"Christmastime is stressful for all of us but I think it is more stressful for people who are living with poverty," Kai Madisen, Executive Director of the Christmas Cheer Board says. 

A report by Winnipeg Without Poverty in 2016 found that 107,000 Winnipeggers are considered to be living in poverty.

"We have a tremendous, conscious and caring kind of community."

"I'm really rather humbled by the thankfulness (hamper recipients) display and the fact that it makes a difference in their lives," Madisen says.

A hamper from the Christmas Cheer Board will include "everything you would associate with a traditional Christmas dinner" as well as some "extras" like pasta to make the leftovers last a few more days.

"It's a personal thing. I like the turkey better they day after," Madisen says about the decision to include extra food in the hamper.

The Cheer Board proudly says out of all the money raised, they spend less than six percent on operational costs.

"We have a tremendous, conscious and caring kind of community," Madisen says about how they raise enough food and funds each year. "It is really a grassroots community effort."

This year is Madisen's 50th year as a volunteer with the charity as well as the Cheer Board's 100th anniversary. While he cannot say anything yet about the Christmas Cheer Board's anniversary plans, Madisen is looking forward to celebrating the holidays with his friends and family.

"I am looking forward to being with family and putting my feet up," Madisen says.