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Taking a break from decorating my Christmas tree to write about a local telethon called Christmas Daddies. This organization grew out of a conversation in a pub back in the 60s where a group of friends, businessmen, decided to raise some funds to help give local kids who were from underpriviledged families a proper Christmas. It started out as a local telethon on a local station and has grown over the years to a telethon that airs in all the eastern provinces, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. They feature local talent, school choirs, people singing and dancing. Some are professional performers or celebrities that donate their time and some are amateurs. Lots of schools have penny drives and bake sales. There are competitions between businesses. They have auctions. There's one auction on a little yellow rubber duck that has been auctioned off every year for over 30 years or more. The Navy Divers run long distance today and collect money along their route all the way to the studio in Halifax. I remember watching this telethon when i was a kid, it started in 1964 and is always on the first Sunday of December. I can remember being out with my family, cutting a tree down in the woods behind my aunt's house in the country, coming home and cuddling under a blanket with some hot choc and watching the telethon. There is a phone line for donations (1-877-947-2010) or there is a website for secure donations as well. You see the names of people who have donated being shown on the screen all during the telethon and many donate in memory of someone. I've donated quite a few times and this year it's in memory of Dad, Uncle Keith and Eddie.

The entertainment isn't always top of the line and is sometimes kind of funny but everyone does it to help raise money so who cares if they're singing off a little or are dressed in silly Christmas sweaters and things! The show is a lot more polished than it used to be, for sure, but the end result is the same. They bring Christmas to a lot of families via the Salvation Army that wouldn't have it.