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In 1921, the Saskatoon Star’s Christmas Fund campaign collected money, toys and knitted items for people in the area who needed help. Those people, in turn, wrote to the paper with what they required.
Sporting Christmas: Holiday need, and helping hands, not a new thing
“We have not been able to save anything towards Christmas.”
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“Could you spare us a few things for Christmas?” wrote one child. “I am 10 years old, and I have three sisters, 9, 8 and 4. We had no Christmas last year because my daddy was out of work. My mother has been sick with typhoid fever since August. We have not been able to save anything towards Christmas.”
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Another child, whose father was Great War veteran of the 53rd battalion, requested a pair of Size 10 overalls, a pair of Size 1 shoe packs, and a toque to help with a long walk to school.
“My father cannot buy these things for me,” wrote the child, “because we have had no crop for two years.”
Meanwhile, a young girl named Elsie Whitaker poked her head in the Star newsroom, was greeted by a reporter, and shyly handed over a $1 bill “and two pretty caps” — one red and white, the other yellow and blue.
It was a delicate little balancing act, people who needed help and those who were able to provide help. Those same people may have walked past each other on the street, not knowing the role each played in making Christmas better.
Nothing’s changed in 2024, except the way we can deliver assistance. Many Christmas charities do wonderful work. Our focus here is on the Salvation Army’s Christmas hamper program, and we’re grateful for everybody who’s answering the call.
Terry McAdam writes in memory of his parents, Stan and Merc McAdam of Conquest, “who, like many others, put on many miles on country roads to follow their small town sports teams in hockey, ringette and fastball.”
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Dawn Wood-Louden tells us: “Once more we are happy to donate to this most worthy cause. Again this year, we give in honour of all of our expat friends and relatives around the globe who keep track of their beloved Canadian teams from afar. (Looking at you Scott and Lance in Tokyo).”
The Loreburn Lions passed on proceeds from their annual turkey shoot, and the Saskatoon 567 Car Club “wishes for Peace on Earth and a big thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate 50 years as a Car Club this year.”
There were no online portals in 1921, so that gives us an advantage. If you wish to donate, please visit thestarphoenix.com/sportingchristmas
You can also drop your donation off at the Salvation Army (38 Bateman Crescent). Please make sure to mark it as a Sporting Christmas donation.
Thanks to today’s Santas:
Anonymous: $100
Loving memory of our wonderful parents Herb and Lila Morgan and Bob and Reta Duck. Always missed and forever loved, from Brian and Marguerite Morgan: $200
Loving memory of Donna Hundseth from the Hundseth Family: $200
Memory of Marilyn Wilson from Don Wilson: $200
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Memory of Joe and Simonne Beallie and Harold Currie: $200
Loving memory of dear friends Russell, Del, Phil and Gordie. Greg and El: $100
In honour of all our expat friends and relatives around the globe, from Dawn Wood-Louden: $200
Donation on behalf of Marguerite and George Graves, life-long sports fans, from Brian Graves: $200
Terri and Butch Pfefferle: $300
Memory of my wife, late Joanne, from Terry Kachur: $100
Loreburn and District Lions Club Annual Turkey Shoot: $125
Loving memory of Alan Buckley from Pat, Michelle, Laura and Jenn: $200
Doug and Barbara Piper: $200
Memory of our friends and teammates gone too soon, from Lois and Rick Wakeman: $100
Memory of my parents, Stan and Merc of Conquest, from Terry McAdam: $260
Memory of our baseball-loving dads! Mac Savage Sr. and Norman Thoen, from Bob and Sandra Savage: $200
Anonymous: $100
Merry Christmas: $100
Anonymous: $100
In honour of Betty Lou and Paul Brunelle from Faye Piercy: $100
Memory of Gord McMurtry, friend and mentor, from Don Reimer: $100
Memory of Lorne Vinnish, fellow scrunt and friend, from Bob Burnyeat: $100
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Memory of Larry Gingerich from Betty Gingerich and family: $100
Merry Christmas and wishing everyone a peaceful and joyous 2025 from the Miller/Norris Olympics family: $180
Saskatoon 567 Car Club: $250
Memory of Sandra Henderson from Paul Henderson: $200
Memory of Veronica Park, Lorne Osika, Maurice Houle, Lou Kuss, Les Bird and Herb Sim from Glen Houle: $150
Adele Kuss: $200
Today’s total: $4,565
TOTAL TO DATE: $38,103.58
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