For many donors, Sporting Christmas is a family tradition

Since I took up the Sporting Christmas mantle from a long line of Starphoenix sports editors, I’ve been struck by the number of repeat donors.

Donating to Sporting Christmas — seeing a name or memory printed in the daily paper and a gift heading to the Salvation Army — is a treasured Christmas tradition for many.

We welcome all comers, very gladly, whether they’re donating for the first time, the only time or the 30th time. And it’s nice to receive notes like the one we get today from Murray Taylor.

“My father, Al Taylor, was a Saskatoon businessman until he passed away in 2004,” writes Murray. “I used to walk his cheque down to the Starphoenix every year until he died. I took over the yearly donation for the Taylor family, and now I have ‘passed the torch’ to my son Andrew to continue the tradition. Dedicated to those who can’t be with us at Christmas this year.”

Thanks to the Taylors for what they’ve done for many, many families through their gifts.

Every nickel we receive goes to the Salvation Army for its Christmas hamper program. Families given those hampers face hard times, and they receive — in addition to a turkey or ham and a week’s worth of holiday food — gifts for the kids, which can be hand-picked free of charge by parents at Sally Ann’s Toy Shop.

Last year, one past recipient, Calvin Carr, who frequently volunteers with the Salvation Army, told me this: “In my opinion, it’s the look on the kids’ faces when they wake up to a big breakfast, a big supper, then sitting there going, ‘I’m full; I can’t move; I can’t even play with my toys, because my belly’s full.’ And it’s nice when you can sit there, and watch your kid open a Christmas present you know you might not have been able to afford. But you got it from somewhere that helped you get that.”

We receive an annual donation on behalf of former Saskatoon Hilltop Derek Bidwell, now a sportscaster with Saskatoon Global, and longtime cheerleading coach Nicole (Bidwell) Green.

Colleen Gerwing donates, with a thanks to “Surgery 5000 staff at RUH for excellent care,” and the Mckillop Clan sends their annual gift, with this note: “We wish a Merry Christmas to all who give in any way to make Christmas a happy time for everyone.”

Want to help? We’d love to have you join us. There’s many ways to donate.

Visit thestarphoenix.com/sportingchristmas and click the donation link, or stop at our downtown office to leave your donation at our front desk, or in the slot inside the front doors.

You can also mail to:

Sporting Christmas c/o The Starphoenix

204 Fifth Ave. North Saskatoon, Sask.

S7K 2P1

Please let us know if you want a tax receipt.