Corinna Peterson, GINCC

Don’t be a scrooge this holiday season. Make your community better, rack up those karma points, and spread some holiday cheer to those less fortunate. The pandemic has been tough on families, especially those who lost jobs or relatives.

Give back by donating to the TV6 Virtual Canathon, Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, St. Vincent De Paul, or other community fundraisers.

The 2020 TV6 Virtual Canathon has transitioned to monetary donations this year to minimize the potential spread of COVID. To donate directly to your local food pantry, go to www.tv6canathon.com. Donations can be made by check, money order, pay pal, or credit card. Please contact TV6 Canathon Director Scott Zerbel at szerbel@wluctv6.com. Donations can be made through December 11.

Donate to the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign. “Our Red Kettle campaign, a tradition known around the world, directly benefits those in need in Marquette County. When you give to a red kettle, not only do you help make the holiday brighter for local families, but your donation helps support year-round programs and services that provide hope and healing to our neighbors in need.” Donations can also be made online at https://donate.salvationarmywi.org/campaign/marquette-county-mi-virtual-red-kettle/c306271.

UP Home Health & Hospice and UP Private Duty Service are working with the United States Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots to give away a Vizio 55 inch 4k Smart TV. Donate a new children’s toy (value of $5) for an entry into the drawings. Enter as many times as you would like! Toys can be dropped off Monday-Friday, 8:30-5:00 pm at UP Home Health & Hospice in Marquette or Ishpeming until December 11. For more information, please contact 906-225-4545 or visit www.uphomehealth.org.

Don’t forget about the Mining Journal’s Cheer Club! From November 27 through Christmas Eve, donors can drop off their Cheer Club donations in a box inside the vestibule of the Journal’s office at 249 W. Washington St. in downtown Marquette, as the office remains closed to the public due to the coronavirus.

Give back to your community by shopping local for the holidays and entering our Shop Local Drawing. To enter, share a picture to our Facebook page of you shopping at a local West End business. Drawings will be held on December 7, 14, and 21 at 4 pm. Winners will be notified via Facebook.

Make sure to follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/GINCC) or Instagram (@discoverthewestend) to stay up-to-date with the GINCC, and check out our Takeout List including all restaurants open in Ishpeming and Negaunee!

EDITOR’S NOTE: Corinna Peterson is the Communications & Marketing Assistant at the GINCC. She currently resides in Marquette with her Mini Australian Shepherd, Lola. She enjoys reading, hiking, snowboarding, working out, and trying out new vegetarian restaurants and recipes for her blog.