With the holidays just around the corner, our news and radio teams have been busy spreading cheer from coast-to-coast. To honour the spirit of giving, we asked some of our news and radio personalities about their favourite ways to give back over the holidays. From buying socks and underwear to support Winnipeg’s Siloam Mission to dressing up as the big guy in a red suit himself, these stories are sure to get you in the holiday spirit.
Global News Winnipeg’s Lauren McNabb helps give the essentials
Tears of joy over socks and underwear. If I didn’t see them myself, truthfully if I hadn’t shed tears myself, I might not have believed it either. Stop and think about it. They’re the essentials we all need in a long, cold winter and at Winnipeg’s largest shelter, they’re also the items in greatest demand.
It’s the reason behind Global News Winnipeg’s Knickers and Kickers campaign and also the reason behind all those tears. After a day-long fundraising drive on TV and radio with our Corus colleagues, the outstanding generosity of Manitobans helped fill an entire trailer with thousands of brand new socks and underwear to be used by Winnipeg’s less fortunate. When it pulled up behind Siloam Mission, the great folks who work there couldn’t contain their smiles. As one employee tearfully shared with me, it’s the little things that help offer those in need a little dignity and give them a little hope. The donations made that day would be enough to get their clients through the next few months.
But after talking to Siloam I did the math. The thousands of socks and underwear donated would only be enough to get them through to Christmas. I’m a mom. Socks and underwear are two items I toss into a stocking each holiday season, usually without thinking twice. This year, as I shop with my own family, I will tell them about the people who often struggle to find one pair of socks, let alone live with a drawer full. It’s not a gift, it’s an essential. The tradition for my family now will be to remember and respect that and give away as many as we can.
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Lauren McNabb is Global News Winnipeg’s Global News at 6 Anchor
Fresh Morning hosts Pete and Catherine pay it forward
It just doesn’t feel like Christmas on Fresh Mornings until we hit the road to deliver turkeys from the local food bank to families in need in our community.
This is a Peterborough-wide tradition that started years ago on our radio station when Pete got a call from a local person who knew of a few families who feared they would not be able to afford a turkey for Christmas dinner. Pete got the word out over the airwaves and before the end of the day, there were more turkeys than families who had requested one. This grew into an annual tradition with more than 100 families benefiting every year. This year, we’re taking our turkey deliveries to the next level by launching Pete and Catherine’s 12 Days of Kindness. From delivering turkeys and shoveling driveways to donating blood and dropping off coffee, we will be spreading the love and encouraging everyone on the receiving end to pay it forward.
Pete and Catherine co-host Fresh Mornings on Fresh Radio 100.5 Peterborough
Global News Edmonton’s Mike Sobel helps children in need
As the holiday season approaches, I always look forward to helping out 630 CHED Santas Anonymous. In the early morning hours on the weekend before Christmas, I pull up to the depot and load up my vehicle with about 20 bags full of gifts. I then spend the rest of the day delivering these gifts to children who might not receive one if not for this amazing organization.
I also look forward to helping out Global News Edmonton’s annual Give Me Shelter campaign. The campaign objective is to collect much-needed gifts and toiletries for the women and children fleeing domestic abuse over the holiday season.
Mike Sobel is a Weather Specialist for Global News Edmonton
680 CJOB Winnipeg host, Greg Mackling is Santa’s secret helper
One of my favourite Christmas traditions is an annual visit to an inner-city daycare centre, run by a life-long friend of mine. For about five years, it has been my honour to hand out gifts to the children, some of whom may be celebrating Christmas in Canada for the very first time. Oh, yes; of course, dressed as Ol’ St. Nick.
Greg Mackling co-hosts Mackling and Megarry on 680 CJOB Winnipeg
Fresh Radio host, Taylor shares a laugh
As a young professional just a few years out of college, I know money can be tight, but in my mind, making a difference for someone in need doesn’t have to break the bank. One of my favourite things to do in life is to make people laugh and hopefully they’ll forget their worries even just for a few minutes. It’s something I strive for with every on-air break and in my day-to-day life outside of work as well.
This will be my first Christmas in the Peterborough area, so I haven’t really developed any traditions here yet, but this month my co-host Brian and I are going out to buy toys for kids receiving services from the area Children’s Aid Society, as part of a project called Santa’s Sleigh. I’ve also started a “Reverse Advent Calendar” this year, with donations going to the local food bank. Even if it’s just paying for the next person’s coffee at Tim Hortons, I like to try and make someone’s day just a bit brighter.
AM 900 CHML’s Bill Kelly Spreads Hope this Holiday Season
As a native Hamiltonian, I’m thankful to work at AM 900 CHML, a radio station with a long tradition of helping the Hamilton community.
I’ve been a celebrity server at the Good Sheppard Christmas Dinner and hosted countless charity events, but my greatest joy is being part of the AM 900 CHML/Y108 Christmas Tree of Hope campaign.
Listening to the guests on our show tell our listeners how the gift they received from our Tree of Hope campaign helped them through a tough time or brought joy to a child at Christmas really underscores the impact that a caring broadcast team like Corus Hamilton can have on the community. It makes me proud to be part of that team.
Bill Kelly hosts the Bill Kelly Show weekdays from 9am – noon on AM 900 CHML
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