As many local residents have noticed, The Mining Journal has launched the 2025 Christmas Cheer Club one week early this year, due to the government shutdow and issues with SNAP benefits, to name just two stressors.

In years past, the Cheer Club’s traditional launch date was Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. But Mining Journal personnel all felt this year is different.

As we like to do every year down here at The Mining Journal, spreading cheer becomes a major focus in the weeks leading up to Christmas. The Mining Journal Cheer Club is a partnership between the Journal, the Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul that aims to provide children with toys and other gifts for the holidays.

Sure it’s nice to spend a little extra money on yourself for Christmas and buy that big-screen television you’ve had your eye on for the past few months. But we all know the Christmas season is about more than that.

It’s really about giving to others.

That’s what the Cheer Club is all about: community members helping out their neighbors, and everyone being a little kinder to each other.

When you buy a toy and donate it to the Cheer Club, you’re helping to put a smile on a youngster’s face, and that should be all the reason you need to participate.

It might seem insignificant to those folks out there who’ve always been provided with a heap of gifts on Christmas, but just one brand new toy might mean the world to a little girl or boy. Please consider dropping off an unwrapped toy for a child in need this holiday season.

Our Christmas tree is decorated, our doors are open and we look forward to accepting your donations.

There are few things more important than giving our local youths a little Christmas cheer, and this is the perfect opportunity to do just that.

Donate to the Cheer Club and help us celebrate the joy of giving and spreading the Christmas spirit.