Time is running out to donate to the KTW Christmas Cheer Fund.
If you want to support this great annual fundraising effort that helps five local non-profit organizations in Kamloops, you have until the end of December to do so.
I’m not going to try to tell you that it’s the best or most important fundraiser because there are so many worthy groups out there that need financial support at this time of year.
What I will say is that the KTW Christmas Cheer Fund is the one currently the closest to my heart.
I started working at Kamloops This Week at the beginning of October.
In the chaos of my on-boarding and learning the ins and outs of this newspaper, covering the KTW Christmas Cheer Fund was one of the first assignments to land on my desk.
For the past two months, I’ve been immersed in it.
I’ve had a chance to talk to representatives of all the non-profits that will be receiving KTW Christmas Cheer Fund money this year — the Kamloops Brain Injury Association, the Y Women’s Shelter, Out of the Cold shelter, the Boys and Girls Club’s Falcon Program and The Mustard Seed New Life Community.
I’ve also had a chance to speak with many of the people who have been working so hard during the last few weeks to help raise funds for the cause.
Those are people like Jim Doan, sensei at the Western Karate Academy, whose students’ annual fundraising kickathon has raised more than $100,000 for the Cheer Fund since 2002.
There is Denver McKinlay, a karate student who pounded the pavement, going door to door to raise $2,000 on his own.
There are companies like Investors Group Wealth Management that have been giving to the cause for many years, including this one.
And, of course, there are the individual donors, named and anonymous, donating $10 or $500.
It’s all valuable — literally every penny counts — and it all goes to sa quintet of local groups that really need the money.
One point that came up often as I spoke with the representatives of the different organizations is just how hard it can be for them to simply keep the lights on.
Money is tight for these non-profits and they would much rather be spending their time focused on their volunteer work than on fundraising to pay the bills.
With that in mind, and with the spirit of giving in full force as we approach Christmas, let’s see if we can make one more big push in donations to the KTW Christmas Cheer Fund.
It’s well worth it.
If you would like to donate, go online to kamloopsthisweek.com/cheer or drop by our office at 1365B Dalhousie Dr. in Southgate.
We are open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
HERE’S HOW TO HELP A GREAT CAUSE
Charities being supported this year include the Y Women’s Emergency Shelter, Out of the Cold shelter, The Mustard Seed New Life Community, Kamloops Brain Injury Association and Boys and Girls Club’s Falcon Program.
To donate, go online to kamloopsthisweek.com/cheer or visit the KTW office, 1365B Dalhousie Dr. in Southgate. Office hours are Mondays to Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
All donations collected will be held by the United Way Thompson Nicola Cariboo for distribution in January. Online receipts will be issued immediately by the United Way; cash donations will generate receipts in January.
During the KTW Christmas Cheer campaign, we will recognize donors, along with a running tally.
THANK YOU, DONORS!
• St. John Vianney Friday
Afternoon Bridge Club: $101
• In Memory of Peter
Botham: $100
• Valerie Brown: $100
• ND McGowan: $100
• KTW Social Fund: $321
• Kamloops This Week: $2,070
• Anonymous: $100
• Anna Evenrude: $50
• John and Val Kemp: $100
• Spencer and Janet Bryson: $200
• The Posse: $100
• Irene Anderson: $20
• Lynne Totten: $100
• Marg Clements: $100
• Anonymous: $500
• Darren, Sharlene & Kyle McIlwain: $158
• Tracey Mourre: $20
• Rick & Judy Collinge: $100
• Anonymous: $25
• Tom & Sharon Moore: $100
• Amy Regen: $100
• Wally & Wendy Reddeman: $75
• Jerry & Wendy Patrick: $100
• Rick Bennett: $50
• Teresa & Colman Byrne: $200
• Anonymous: $100
• Evelyn Meyer: $60
• Buzz & Jane Osterloh: $100
•• Anonymous: $200
• Anonymous: $320
• Margaret Sandulak: $100
• Shirley Brown: $100
• Wendy and Kim in memory of Peter Basson & John Healy: $25
• Linda Jackson in memory of George Wilmot: $100
• Anonymous: $500
• Jo-Mary and Bob Hunter: $200
• Sharon L. in memory of Sharon & David Frampton: $100
• In memory of James
Maloney: $500
• Shirley Ross: $100
• Sue Turner: $200
• In Memory of Julianne Lion: $100
• Lois McAlary: $100
• Donna Sharpe: $50
• Anonymous: $150
• Don and Marlene Pattern: $60
• Libby Denbigh in memory of David and Rachel: $50
• Sharon Cooley in memory of Ruth Cooley: $50
• Anonymous: $50
• Anonymous: $50
• Richard and Shirley Holmes: $100
• Anonymous: $200
• Anonymous: $20
• Anonymous: $50
• Marianne Forrest in
memory of Bob Madden: $30
• Don & Marlene Pattern: $60
• Anonymous: $50
• Erik Seifert: $100
• Tony and Kaz Dufficy: $50
• Anonymous: $100
• Ron & Susan Durant: $100
• Kenneth Sharman: $100
• Evan and Wendy Lichlyter: $100
• Ken and Gladys Klepachek: $100
• Sandra Blakely in memory of Douglas Blakely: $100
• Kathy Sinclair: $50
• G. and A. Morrissette: $300
• Darko and Allison Filipic: $200
• Gary and Carol Bacon: $100
• Anonymous: $100
• Maureen Hove: $50
• Brenda Fennell: $200
• Anonymous: $300
• Dale and Noeline Kerr: $100
• Phil and Verne Churchill on behalf of our family: $100
• Harriett Chave: $100
• In memory of Noel Kirby from family: $100
• Anne Wade: $50
• Anonymous: $200
• Anonymous: $30
• Beth and Chris Tanner in memory of Eleanor & Bob Tanner: $100
• Anonymous: $20
• Wesley, Vanessa and
Christina Mah: $100
• TRU Quilters: $200
• In memory of Joe Bedard: $100
• In memory of Teresa and Sam Bruno: $100
