We're ramping up our hamper drive and are grateful for every dollar

We sent out the call, and what a response.

Our annual Sporting Christmas campaign launched last week, and we've already raised nearly $20,000 from good folks who realize that yes — there is a need out there and it's a big one.

Christmas is less than a month away, and it's time to start thinking about chestnuts, hot chocolate and old TV specials that somehow never get tiring, no matter how much you watch them. But please don't forget the people around you who might need a helping hand this holiday season.

That's why Sporting Christmas comes back year after year. We raise money for the Salvation Army's Christmas hamper program, which provides area families with a week's worth of food — including a turkey or ham — over the holiday season, and gifts for the kids.

With food prices jumping higher than Santa's sleigh, many families face a stressful Christmas season unless we can step in and provide a bit of help. And we're grateful for every dollar that comes in.

“God bless the Salvation Army and all who help the needy,” writes Norman Bergen, who donates in memory of his parents and eight siblings.

We received two very large gifts today — both anonymous — with one sent by a longtime contributor in memory of his brother. Those two donations, $10,000 and $6,355 respectively, will do more good, and help more people, than I can fully express on this page. All we can say is thank you.

And thank you, truly, to all those who have kick-started our campaign with their gifts. The Salvation Army gets every dollar, and we know they will honour the spirit of these donations by putting that money to work for a wonderful cause.

There are many ways to help. To donate online, please visit our website at thestarphoenix.com and click the Sporting Christmas link, or type thestarphoenix.com/tag/ sporting-christmas to get straight to our dedicated page.

Mailed donations can be sent to: Sporting Christmas c/o The Salvation Army 38 Bateman Cres.

Saskatoon, Sask.

S7H 3C4

You can also drop your gift off in person at the above address — just be sure to mark it as a Sporting Christmas donation.

THANKS TO TODAY'S SANTAS:

Memory of Forrest Conklin from the CIBC Funseekers: $788

Memory of Tim Anderson, Deb Hankins and Scott Macdougall-ryan from Lil and Merv Prysiazniuk: $300

Memory of my parents and all eight siblings: Isaac and Anna Bergen, Menno, Rosa, Tony, Emma, Edna, Verna, Leona, Bruno, from Norman Bergen: $250

Memory of family and friends we'll miss, from Susan and Merne Fast: $200

Memory of Michael Leppin from Barb and Dan Jiricka: $200

Memory of Jerry and Terry from Bev Kinshella: $50

Gordon and Susan Kreutzwieser: $50

Loving memory of George and

Ginny Burling from Garry Burling: $500

Anonymous in memory of his brother: $6,355

Anonymous: $10,000

Memory of Allan Stuchenko, Jo-ann Stuchenko Sparks, John and Pauline Snitinsky: $400 Anonymous: $100

Memory of Gordon Wheler, Ann Christensen and Mae Hamilton from Kathleen Wheler: $50 Anonymous: $125

Memory of Jim Serne from Doris and family: $50

Memory of Edna and Nick Korpan from their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren: $200

Today's total: $19,618

Total to date: $19,618