Santa's Helpers On CHCO Raises $71,364 For Families In Southwest New Brunswick

The 52nd annual Santa's Helpers telethon took place on Sunday on CHCO Television. During the over four hour telethon that featured choir performances from schools across Southwest New Brunswick, viewers from across the province and beyond called in pledges to help local families in need over the holidays. Thanks to these pledges as well as some generous donations from local businesses and organizations, the telethon raised $71,364 on Sunday with more donations still coming in through e-transfer and cheque donations. 100% of the proceeds raised by the Santa's Helpers telethon will help bring Christmas to 476 local children and 221 families this year. This is the most number of people the telethon has been able to help in its over half century history. 

"It's an incredible number that will go to help so many families in our region and bring joy to so many children on Christmas morning," said Andrew Giddens, Chair of the Santa's Helpers organization about the amount raised by the 2022 telethon. The telethon was hosted by Giddens and CHCO News Director Vicki Hogarth. MLAs Kathy Bockus of St. Croix and Andrea Anderson-Mason of Fundy-the Isles-Saint John West and Mayors Brad Henderson of Saint Andrews, Allan MacEachern of St. Stephen, and John Craig of Eastern Charlotte were in studio for the telethon along with the entire Santa's Helpers Board of Directors. 

Giddens said the way the Santa's Helpers program works is that families who apply to receive help from Santa's Helpers get gift cards to do their own holiday shopping with. "Families who are recipients of Santa's Helpers will receive gift cards for the Atlantic Superstore, Canadian Tire and Giant Tiger," said Giddens. "Parents will be able to pick out the holiday food items and presents that best suit their children and families. This way they aren't just receiving handouts. They can plan their own Christmas."

For over half a century, Santa's Helpers has been an important community-wide charity drive in Southwest New Brunswick. It was originally a radio program but has been a highly anticipated televised event on CHCO for the past four years.