CHRISTMAS. The special time of year when families gather together to share delicious food and relive precious memories; when friendships are rekindled, and festive decorations are outdone only by nature’s paintbrush.

There is nothing more endearing on Christmas morning than the sight of

a child racing to the Christmas tree, and with eyes full of wonder and expectation, tearing open gifts that have been lovingly wrapped. There truly is no better time to be a child than at Christmas – memories created at this magical time of year last a lifetime.

 

But for countless children, hopes and expectations that only Christmas can bring are met with the harsh reality of disappointment. A large number of families simply don’t have the extra cash needed to make their children’s Christmas a memorable occasion.

 

For thousands of families, the joy that Christmas brings is dependent on the kindness of a stranger’s heart.

 

A Time to Reach Out. Christmas is the season to reach out to those in need. It is the time when we must look beyond ourselves and cultivate the true meaning of the season. This is the time to extend hope and compassion by giving to those less fortunate.

 

There are numerous charities that help us connect with the families that are struggling to make ends meet. However it isn''t easy for these charities to get their voices heard amidst the din of commercial messages we are bombarded with at Christmas-time. Fortunately, in what is really a perfect match, some of the easy listening radio stations have teamed up with various charities to spread the word and make Christmas special for everyone. The feel-good holiday music interspersed with calls to help with a good cause bring in some much-needed donations.

 

CP24- CHUM Christmas Wish. Perhaps one of the biggest and best established of the annual campaigns is the CHUM Christmas Wish. This season will be the 42nd year that CHUM will be holding its Christmas Wish drive. This year, CHUM is taking the message to television as well, with leading cable news channel CP24 signing on as its TV media partner.

 

The CHUM Christmas Wish, in conjunction with its sponsor, RBC Royal Bank, helps make wishes come true for thousands of needy children and their families.

 

The Wish, as it is known for short, officially got underway this year on November 14, with the opening of their headquarters at 3035 Wharton Way, in Mississauga. This location is where thousands of donated toys and gifts are housed before being distributed.

 

Last year, The Wish helped 395 registered agencies who came to the aid of an unprecedented 269,821 children and their families. And it was all thanks to the donations that poured in, supplemented by assistance from RBC Royal Bank, and with the help of the City of Toronto Community and Neighborhood Social Services.

 

The CP24-CHUM Christmas Wish has become one the largest distributors of toys, as well as providers of financial assistance to registered charitable organizations, social services agencies, local churches and community centres. In turn, the agencies distribute the donations to needy families and individuals of diverse faith and cultures.

 

New, unwrapped toys and gifts of all sorts, as well as donations of any amount are welcome. Financial donations in the form of cash or cheques may be made at any RBC Royal Bank branch, or directly at CHUM Radio, 1331 Yonge Street, or at The Wish Headquarters in Mississauga.

 

Those who wish to take the act of giving to a personal level may donate their time by assisting with warehouse duties, such as sorting donated toys and gifts, or assisting with clerical work. If this is your calling, you can register online at www.thewish.ca.

 

Cash donations of $20+ are eligible for an income tax receipt. Cheques should include the contributor’s name and address, and can be made out to CP24-CHUM Christmas Wish. For more information, call 416.926.4199 or email thewish@chumamfm.com.

 

12 Days of Christmas. Over the holiday season, 98.1 CHFI holds their annual 12 Days of Christmas Auction to benefit the Childhood Cancer Foundation Candlelighters Canada.

 

The highly anticipated auction takes place December 8-23 on the Erin and Mike Morning Show, on weekday mornings. The auction packages, which weren''t completely finalized at the time of going to press, will be impressive as always. They will range from trips, to tickets to the hottest shows, and to unique experiences that promise to enchant and mesmerize.

 

Each day, listeners will be invited to bid on one package, which will be awarded to the highest bidder. In the past, the station has raised between $60,000 to $70,000 through the auction.

 

The Childhood Cancer Foundation has a partnership with all of Canada’s 17 childhood cancer hospitals and treatment centres, and is the only organization solely dedicated to the fight against childhood cancer. They achieve this goal by improving the life of children with this horrible disease, by administering support programs, and by providing information and resources to families at critical stages in their cancer journey.

 

The CHFI auction is a great way for radio listeners to secure a one-of-kind Christmas gift while at the same time bringing light, love and hope to children and their families who are going through a dark and difficult time.

 

Surrogate Santa. It has often been stated that the magic of Christmas is seen in the glow of a child’s eyes. But with over 300,000 abused and neglected children in Canada each year, it’s hard to see any sign of merriment in the eyes of these unfortunate children.

 

Each year 97.3 EZ Rock collects thousands of dollars in charitable donations to assist the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada, through a program called Surrogate Santa. The foundation funds programs that improve the lives of abused, neglected and high-risk children and youth.

 

Since 1979 this foundation has been helping children live a safer, happier and more fulfilling life. They are instrumental in helping to break the cycle of abuse and neglect by providing support to high-risk families before the cycle can be replicated. They provided recreational programs for children of all ages, and initiate educational programs, whereby children get a chance to pursue their dreams.

 

This organization, as with the rest of the above mentioned, would not be able to provide assistance to those who need it most without the help of the community. Although one person alone cannot make much of a difference, collectively helping our neighboursin need requires little effort.

 

All in all, the true spirit of Christmas, as it did hundreds of years ago, begins by giving and sharing. To this day, there is no better way to share the warmth of the season than by knowing that, through giving, we have made someone’s wish come true.