‘Tis the season to help out your neighbours, and the Chronicle’s annual Pennies for Presents campaign gives you a chance to do just that — while emptying your pockets and cleaning between the couch cushions.
The Chronicle has been collecting change from the community since 1997, and in that time, you have donated more than $38,500.
Every penny goes to the Christmas Cheer Fund at the Ladysmith Resources Centre Association (LRCA) for its Christmas hamper program.
Bring your coins, bills and cheques to the Chronicle office at 341 First Ave. up until Dec. 16, and you can help ensure enough hampers are filled.
“The penny drive contribution goes toward giving us greater buying power ... and it does make a big difference,” said LRCA executive director Dennis Lait.
Last year, the LRCA gave out 164 Christmas hampers, and Lait expects to deliver more this year.
“This year, we’re only part-way through registration, and we’re already close to 90 applications,” he said. “We’re looking at, right now, for the same period from last year to this year, the number of requests are up and the donations of cash are down.”