An annual event that brightens local families holiday seasons is underway.

Christmas Cheer and Toys for Tots helps gift a week’s worth of groceries, which includes everything to make a traditional Christmas dinner, and brand new toys to families with children living in poverty.

“Think of the month of December, most of you have already started talking about Christmas, celebrating Christmas, what are you going to get for Christmas, what are you going to make for Christmas,” said Joleene Kemp, Christmas Cheer Fund Campaign Chair. “How do you think those families feel? Team Red wants to give those families a hamper with a weeks worth of groceries and gifts for their children so they don’t have to think about it. We take the pressure off them because in a food bank you can only access once a month, so when they get their hamper for December, that doesn’t take into account what they are going to need to celebrate Christmas.”

The event incorporates a month-long series of donations, ending with a gift box pick-up on December 14th and 15th at the Heritage Building at the CLE Grounds.

As a result of current COVID-19 restrictions, people are being asked to contribute financially, and allow the Christmas Cheer Fund to purchase all items for the gift boxes.

In terms of the Toys for Tots campaign, it also began accepting donations, led by local firefighters.

“We’re actually starting at the mall now with this kick off, and our guys will be standing there most of the mall hours,” said Paul Penna, Chair of the Thunder Bay Professional Firefighters Toys for Tots Campaign. “People can come and donate, we have debit machine so we accept debit cards, visa, or Mastercard or cash. We will of course will submit tax receipts for people.

“The need just seems to get bigger every year, there’s just more children living in just less fortunate circumstances and for us to be able to make a difference in so many of those children’s lives year after year, and we do it with the help of Thunder Bay obviously.”

A significant part of the fundraiser every year is 36 hours of cheer put on by Acadia Broadcasting.

There will be a ‘pop-up’ setup outside of the building at 180 Park Avenue on December 9th and 10th collecting monetary donations.

99.9 The Bay will be broadcasting the 36 hour event with Station Manager John Ongaro and Morning Show host Danny Foresta, with live updates on Country 105.