It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas … at least for the volunteers with the Pictou County Christmas Fund and the food banks in Pictou East and Pictou West.
The 49th annual Pictou County Christmas Fund Telethon is just around the corner, and final preparations are under way for the show. All proceeds from the telethon are used to provide a Christmas dinner with all of the trimmings for families in need in Pictou County.
Once the telethon has signed off, local residents step up and honour their pledges so as many families as possible can be assisted. Pledges can be honoured at any local bank or credit union in Pictou County, or in New Glasgow at the offices of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pictou County on MacGregor Street or Atlantic Insurance on Provost Street. Those who honour their pledges on or before December 4 will be eligible to win one of about a dozen fabulous early bird prizes generously provided by local merchants; draw date is December 6 at the offices of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pictou County.
Volunteers with the Pictou East Food Bank and Pictou West Food Bank work hard to make sure local families benefit from the telethon.
In Pictou East, distribution dates are Dec. 12, 14, 19 and 21, from 1 to 3 p.m. each day. Lia LeClair, longtime volunteer with the Pictou East Food Bank, says more than two dozen volunteers will be on hand on those days to manage the flow of people arriving. She reminds those needing the assistance that ID will be required for each member of the family.
In Pictou West, the distribution date is Dec. 19 from noon until 7 p.m.
Questions regarding gift card distribution can be answered by calling 902-755-2906 in Pictou East or 902-485-8996 in Pictou West, or by visiting either location on their Facebook sites.
This year’s televised event will take place Sunday, Nov. 26, being broadcast from 1 to 6 p.m. on Eastlink Community TV channel 10. Audio streaming will also be made available online at pictoucountychristmasfund.ca, made possible by Lucas Technology & Analytics. Again this year, the event will be held at the Pictou County Wellness Centre while its usual venue, the deCoste Performing Arts Centre, is in the midst of expansion and renovations.
The show will also return to a combination of live and virtual presentations. The performances will be a virtual format while the hosting and pledge reading will be done live from the Wellness Centre.
Added to the entertainment roster this year will be virtual performances by the Kitchen Criminals, Dave Gunning, the Dlamini Family, Jakki Rogue, Nataly and Nico Garcia, Amelia Parker, the Stellarton Male Chorus, Inner Voice, and many more. Hosting will be the familiar faces and voices of committee member and former radio personality Ann MacGregor along with Alex Theriault of Q97.9 and Morning Breeze host Emma Freckelton, who will also be providing live updates from the site throughout the day on 94.1.
Christmas Fund telethon just around the corner