About 180 hampers filled with food and gifts were distributed in Winnipeg's North End on Saturday, as soldiers from the Fort Garry Horse army reserve carried out "Operation Parcel Push."

Dressed in green camouflage, reservists packed piles of brown boxes from the Christmas Cheer Board into minivans to be distributed to people in the area surrounding the regiment's home at the Strachan Armoury (formerly McGregor Armoury) on Machray Avenue — an annual tradition for more than four decades.

Maj. Matthew Bittner, who has participated in Operation Parcel Push for about 20 years, said it's important for Fort Garry Horse soldiers to be involved members of the local community.

"We want to show that we are part of the community, and it's just giving back to where we're from," he said.

Maj.

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