This time around, Adopt-A-Teen is the recipient of Tom and Don’s largesse.

“I always loved Adopt-A-Teen, ever since it started at The Sun,” says Tom. “Ultimately these teens are tomorrow’s adults and civic leaders.  I think this program has an impact on teens well beyond Christmas gifts.”

Says Don: “I have a 17-year-old daughter and a 13-year-old son. It’s a special age, the teen years. Some of their friends come from difficult homes. My wife and I try to open our hearts and our home to them. They need to know that others care for them.

“And this is my way of thanking Tom for all he’s done – by supporting a cause that’s dear to both our hearts.”

Tom will be taking auction bids by phone, please call 780-965-1838.  We’ll start at $3,000 – the retail value of the framed/autographed Connor McDavid sweater and the two gold Oiler tickets alone.

For a more detailed description of all the items included in the Oilers Past and Present charity auction package for Adopt-A-Teen, please go to hicksbiz.com and scroll to the auction posting.

• • •

Auctions are fun and attract attention to the cause.

But most donations for The Edmonton Sun’s Adopt-A-Teen gift campaign, and the Christmas Bureau of Edmonton’s food-for-Christmas still come from those of us for whom a $50 or $100 donation represents a sizeable chunk of our Christmas budget.

Both campaigns will gain momentum in this, the week before Christmas. But neither is anywhere close to its goal – $300,000 for Adopt-A-Teen’s 6000 under-privileged teens, $1.5 million for the Christmas Bureau to provide a festive dinner for the 15,000 families in which those teens live.

Fifty dollars helps one teenager. A $100 Christmas Bureau donation takes care of one more family.

Credit card donations can easily be made online at adoptateenedmonton.ca or christmasbureau.com.

Cheques can be mailed to either charity at  Box 16000, Edmonton, AB, T5J 4B4. Cash donations can be dropped off during office hours to The Christmas Bureau office above the Beverly Servus credit union, 4230 118 Ave.

Let’s all do our part, to ensure every family, child and teen in Edmonton can enjoy Christmas.