Christmas Day is just around the corner, and for thousands of people in our community – it came a little early.
After what was a whirlwind last week with our 36 Hours of Cheer, I took the weekend to regroup a bit and found myself thinking a lot about what $260,983 in food looks like. What it’s impact was and how the entire city rallied behind an amazing organization to help.
Our 36 Hours of Cheer Marathon was – in a word – heartwarming. It was a lot of work to put it together, but our team here at Acadia Broadcasting pulled together to make it happen. Everyone on our team had a role. That’s not a huge surprise because we have (in my opinion) the best team in radio. Always willing to help and always stepping up to make things happen for our community. What came of it was historic. Quite literally.
We’re fortunate to have partners that were happy to step up. All of them willing to donate to the cause and make a difference. There were a lot. Kelly Mental Health, Superior Hearing, Reliance Home Comfort, Thunde r Pet, KBM Outdoors, Dominion Motors, Pizza Hut, Gary’s Towing and Impala Canada all donated, joined us on the air and helped in a huge way. That opened the floodgates to countless other local businesses that heard the call for help and stepped up.
Yesterday i made the yearly trip to the CLE Coliseum to check in with Team Red. What a difference from previous years. There weren’t hundreds of volunteers sorting food…it was quiet. Almost an eerie quiet. As the handful of volunteers packed hampers to distribute to those that needed it you could feel a sense of relief. All of the food in the room was purchased – and it was purchased by those that were able to make donations.
A lot has been said about our city, we have our fair share of issues and we continually work together to try to solve them. It’s a long difficult road. But, despite that – there is a lot of good here. A lot of people that want to help and that step up every year. When our city is in need – our community is there, every time. But the 36 Hours of Cheer was different. Covid-19 has changed everything and Christmas is no exception. But because of it the need is higher this year, there are more people in need, and more people that are looking for help. The Thunder Bay Christmas Cheer Fund steps up every year and this year is able to help all that need it. It really is a local gem.
If you followed along on air or on line to the 36 Hours of Cheer – thank you. I was beyond inspired by the amount of messages, comments, texts and calls we received during it all and when it was all over. It shows that our community cares. It shows that there is a lot of good. That made all 36 hours worth it for me.
Because of you, thousands of people will have a weeks worth of food, and children will have a toy under the tree. You made a difference. Thank you for showing what Thunder Bay is all about.
That’s just my two cents. ~ John
