Mining Journal Publisher Ann Troutman and Neil Jandron of Jandron's Fine Jewelry of Marquette, hold checks totaling $500 from Jandron's store employees. It was the initial donation to the 2025 Mining Journal Christmas Cheer Club. Jandron has been the first to donate to the holiday effort for many years. (Journal photo by Holly Gassman)

MARQUETTE — As the holiday season approaches, The Mining Journal kicks off its annual Cheer Club with high aims to gather as many gifts for children as possible. With the governmental shutdown and the SNAP benefits cut, newspaper leadership decided to launch the Cheer Club season a week early; starting today and lasting until just before Christmas.

“We are already gearing up for families,” said Cari Detmers, director of Development at the Marquette County Salvation Army in Marquette. “We have about two and a half weeks until our registration ends and we have a record number of families already. We are estimating that we will be doing Christmas for over a thousand kids, a 20% increase since the last few years. Also we are seeing a 20% increase in parents asking for help.”

Detmers believes that this year has more people in need and that donations this year will be extra impactful.

“Absolutely, we are seeing an increase in need but we are also seeing an increase in giving. This community is amazing. We direct families and people who want to give, to go through the Cheer Club,” said Detmers. “There are lots of ways to partner with other businesses in towns that help us, or help us directly. We also don’t get a lot of toys for teenagers, we get a lot of parents who come to us with teens and that is where we need a lot more help.”

There are many avenues for those who want to help, to do so. “They can go to our website and hit the volunteer tab or call our office,” said Detmers.

The Mining Journal hopes that this greater need in the area can be helped by those donating to the Cheer Club or other programs across town.

“The need is great this year, more than last year,” said Ann Troutman, publisher of The Mining Journal. “Neil Jandron (of Jandron’s Fine Jewelry of Marquette) has supported it every year and challenges other businesses to do the same.”

Antonio Anderson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. His email address is aanderson@miningjournal.net.