Come Fill The Tree!
The Community Press has officially launched its Fill the Tree fundraising campaign for 2024, with all money raised going once again to the Flagstaff Christmas Sharing program, administered by the Flagstaff Food Bank.
What started out as a small front counter campaign decades ago, has grown into a major fundraiser for Caribou Publishing newspapers. Each paper raises funds for its own unique food bank, which benefits hundreds in Beaver, Flagstaff, and Lamont Counties.
Last Christmas season, Community Press readers and customers stopped in or sent cheques, absolutely jam packing the tree and raising a record $10,910.
The total amount raised from all Caribou papers was well over $20,000. This season with food banks low on supplies, the goal is to match or exceed that amount.
For every donation, no matter the amount (the recommended minimum is $5, but no donation is turned away), donors get their names on the Fill the Tree promotional page. Each week, the number of names grows, and so does the amount of money raised for Christmas Sharing.
Additionally, if you bring canned or boxed food donations for the food bank to The Community Press office in Killam (Open Monday through Friday), you will also be able to add your name or the name of a loved one to the tree.
“Year after year, our readers amaze us with their generosity,” said Eric Anderson, Community Press Publisher.
“We know times are tough for many Canadian families and there’s never more pressure than during the holidays,” Anderson said.
“Anything that any of us can do to help can go a long way.”
Over $8,500 has already been received, but there’s still a long way to go to match last year’s total.
The deadline to donate in person at The Community Press office in Killam is Wednesday, December 18 at noon.
However, due to delays caused by the Canada Post strike, the deadline for mailing cheques is now January 3, 2025. The final tally and any names that come in after the Christmas break will be displayed in the first edition of 2025! Please mail to Box 178, Killam, AB; T0B 2L0 and made payable to ‘Flagstaff Christmas Sharing.’ Reminder The Community Press does not keep a dime, all time and advertising is donated.
