THUNDER BAY – There are always unique challenges that come up for the Thunder Bay Christmas Cheer Fund during each holiday season.
In 2024, the obstacle that led to some adjustments came with the Canada Post strike.
“That disrupted some of our registration, so we’re just going with the flow and everyone’s working extremely hard to make it work,” Christmas Cheer Fund chair Jill Thompson said.
“There’s been lots of people who have come in that haven’t had the chance to register or they mailed their card in and it never made its way to us because of the labour disruption.
“We’re working hard to make sure that everyone is getting what they need.”
Other than that, it’s been a normal year for the campaign, which started their hampers gift box pickups on Wednesday at the CLE Coliseum building.
The final day for getting a hamper is Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“We anticipate that it’s going to be pretty steady here during these two days,” Thompson said.
“The morning hours and typically right after work are what tend to be the busiest, but the lines are moving quickly so far and we’re getting people in as fast as we can.”
The final totals from this year’s campaign won’t be known until January, but the Christmas Cheer Fund was able to bring in $276,000 from last week’s 36 Hours of Cheer radiothon.
“We have a great team here,” said Thompson, who is in her first year as the Christmas Cheer Fund chair.
“There’s been a few changes in role and responsibilities and some new people have come on board, but it’s a well-oiled machine here for the most part. We don’t have to change much.
“On behalf of the board, we’re grateful for every person who’s in the CLE building and volunteering their time with us, along with the entire community of Thunder Bay. Their support is truly amazing and it really goes a long way.”
