THUNDER BAY -- The Christmas Cheer Fund is asking Thunder Bay to open its hearts and chequebooks early, as the holiday season quickly approaches.
Organizers set a fundraising goal of $116-thousand this year, which is slightly less than last year's target.
Christmas Cheer provides holiday hampers full of food and presents to the city's least fortunate during the winter season.
Organizers say they're used to people waiting to donate until the last minute, but they're hoping to see giving happen a bit sooner this time around.
This year, people can text their donations to Christmas Cheer, something the charity hopes will help it reach its goal sooner.
Christmas Cheer chair Joleene Kemp said the city, historically, has been called the last minute community.
“We would like to be able to breathe and to put into the hampers everything we possibly can,” Kemp said.
“It would be really wonderful if financial contributions came in a little more rapidly this year and that people really thought about the giving aspect of Christmas, the fact that it really is the joy of giving.”
Donations are accepted at many locations around Thunder Bay, including at city arenas and libraries as well as at the Christmas Cheer office on the CLE grounds.
Christmas Cheer Hampers will be available for pickup on Dec. 19 and 20.
