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Consider donating to Cheer Club this holiday season

The turkey has been carved, and the mashed potatoes and stuffing are just a distant memory now. That means The Mining Journal’s annual Cheer Club, a community toy and gift drive to give back to those in need, is in full swing.

Community members are invited to donate toys at designated drop-off locations. Toys will then be collected by the Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul Marquette and distributed to area children. Cheer Club helps to put presents under the trees of families in need, said Mining Journal Interim Publisher Ann Troutman.

“The Mining Journal holds it every year because it is important for the community,” Troutman said. “It’s something that we’ve embraced and it’s been very successful. It’s a real need in the community and it’s our way during the holidays of helping fill that need.”

She encouraged community members to participate in the toy drive that helps to spread holiday cheer by giving with whatever one can.

“There are a lot of organizations out there that are taking care of essentials where the Cheer Club also just adds a little cheer for children during the holidays,” Troutman said.

All gift and monetary donations made to Cheer Club will be given to St. Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army.

“The generosity of the community is unbelievable. It is incredible,” Troutman said.

Those who wish to recieve gifts from the Salvation Army this Christmas can register in the Marquette or Ishpeming Salvation Army offices. Registration is open until Dec. 6. and registrants must provide a driver’s license or ID, proof of income and proof of residency. Registered families will be given a date and time, either Dec. 19 or 20, to come to this year’s distribution site at the former Younker’s store location in the Westwood Mall, explained Capt. Doug Winters with the Marquette Salvation Army.

“I think seeing the experience of parents that are in tears because they didn’t think they would have enough toys for their kids for Christmas, that one experience alone is enough to drive this process year after year,” Winters said. “There are families that just wouldn’t have a Christmas without the generosity of the people who give to the Cheer Club.”

Participating Cheer Club drop-off locations are:

≤ The Mining Journal, 249 W. Washington St., Marquette

≤ Range Bank locations at 100 N. Front St., Marquette; 250 N. McClellan Ave.; 216 W. Terrace, Harvey; and 601 U.S. 41, Negaunee

≤ Thomson & Metivier PC, 1901 W. Ridge St., Marquette

≤ Gwinn Ace Hardware, 193 E. M-35

≤ Salvation Army Marquette, 1009 W. Baraga Ave.

≤ Salvation Army Ishpeming, 222 E. Division St.

≤ St. Vincent de Paul Thirft Store, 2119 Presque Isle Ave., Marquette

The season of giving is upon us. Please consider making a donation to the Cheer Club — by doing so, you will be ensuring that a child in your community will have a great Christmas.

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