Please help those in need. Donate at timescolonist.com/donate

With the Times Colonist Christmas Fund at $367,600, we have a new match challenge, this one aimed at businesses.

Clarke Engineering and Welding Ltd., on Burns Avenue just off Douglas Street, is donating $500 and is challenging other businesses to match.

These match challenges are fun. They also give donors a chance to see their money grow, which means more good can be done.

If you don’t have a business, don’t worry, there are still challenges for you.

Andrew Beckerman will once again donate $500 if four other people give the same amount before the sun sets tonight.

This will be Beckerman’s sixth $500 challenge this year, not that we are counting. Beckerman offered a similar challenge on Saturday morning, and nine people came through.

We still have an open challenge; we are still looking for three people to donate their Secret Santa money.

Kristina Valentino says her seven family members will donate $50 each, for a total of $350, if another family will donate their Secret Santa money as well. So far, four people have noted “Secret Santa” on their donations.

Your money is already being put to work, helping those in need. But remember: This year, the need is greater than ever before.

To give, go to timescolonist.com/ donate. That will take you to the Canada Helps website, which is open 24 hours a day and provides an immediate tax receipt.

Or mail a cheque, payable to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund Society, to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund, 201-655 Tyee Road, Victoria V9A 6X5.

Or use your credit card by phoning 250-995-4438 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday through Friday. Outside those hours, messages will be accepted.