Praising you, oh phenomenal penny pals

If you're Ukrainian, you're celebrating your Christmas.

If you're head angel for the Free Press annual Pennies from Heaven campaign, you're giving thanks for all the people responsible for helping this year.

A big, big thank you once again to the thousands of mostly anonymous children and students out there who cajoled, persuaded, pleaded and asked for the coins which form the backbone of our campaign.

Today they are looking for pennies, but mark my words: This is the next generation who will soon be contributing the dollars which will help the many worthy charities out there.

Penny Priestess offers thoughts, and it doesn’t cost a penny

TEN years ago, a struggling American writer stopped to pick up a penny she spotted lying in the street. Later that same day, the woman heard from an editor who was looking for somebody to pen a mass-market book. Coincidence? The writer didn’t think so and speculated as much in a message to a friend.

“As the emails went back and forth, I established myself as the tongue-incheek authority on lucky pennies,” the woman says from her home near Philadelphia. Her friend concurred, then ordained her the “Penny Priestess.”

Since then, the Penny Priestess has become a go-to source for copper-related queries. People from around the globe now contact the Dear Abby-type through her website (www.pennypriestess. org), seeking answers to head-scratchers like “I have witnessed people finding pennies and then eating them, thinking it was good luck. Is this true?” or “My last name is Penny.

Am I lucky?” (“No,” and “Yes,” the Priestess replied, adding re: the latter, “Think of the poor unfortunates who have to go through life with names like Skoggs or Crapley or Borenschlosser.”) Given that the Winnipeg Free Press’s Pennies from Heaven campaign is once again in full swing, we recently contacted the Penny Priestess to pose a few questions of our own. And to shed some light on a humble marker that, for 17 years, has been the cornerstone of a fundraiser aimed at helping less fortunate Manitobans.

Xmas spirit burning bright

It was a most welcome sight after a week-long vacation.

My first day back to work, and the manila envelope on my desk contained a whack of cash.

Well, it was actually a bunch of cheques. And, they weren't actually for me. They were actually for a good cause (LOL).

There had been some concern donations were lagging in our annual Spirit of Christmas campaign that aids the Christmas Cheer Board, but the manila envelope and a flurry of donations from our devoted readers has brought our numbers up to just about $87,000.

Generous boy knows the need never really ends

Titus Stewart may only be eight, but he dreams big.

Make that weighty dreams.

And now, with Christmas only one sleep away, this year Titus's challenge will help fill the coffers of our Pennies From Heaven campaign to help the Christmas Cheer Board and Winnipeg Harvest.

You see, earlier this year, right after our last Pennies campaign wrapped up, Titus decided to continue collecting pennies for our next drive.

Web phenom shares

Homegrown YouTube sensation Sean Quigley will be putting his musical talents to work during his performance from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. today at the downtown Bay on 450 Portage Ave.

Fake fundraiser claiming to work for Siloam, says mission

A Winnipeg soup kitchen is warning Winnipeggers about a recent scam targeting charitable local folk.

On Tuesday, Siloam Mission said it had received reports that someone has been going door-to-door in Winnipeg neighbourhoods, asking for donations for the Exchange District mission. But Siloam does not use any door-to-door fundraisers, it said – and warned the solicitors could be scamming.

“Please don’t believe anyone who is knocking on your door and asking donations for Siloam,” said executive director Floyd Perras, encouraging anyone who spots one of these solicitors to contact the mission.

Those wishing to donate to Siloam can do so securely by visiting www.siloam.ca, calling 204-956-4344 or dropping by the mission at 300 Princess Street.

Proud pupils pack up their pennies

If the generosity of students from all 40 schools in the Louis Riel School Division is an indication, then the next generation of philanthropy is in good hands.

Students in the southeast area of the city completed their LRSD for Pennies campaign with a bang, delivering tons of coins in boxes, bottles, bags and pails to the division's administrative offices on Monday.

From there, a panel truck -- riding low because of all the weight -- drove across the city to the North Pole.

Well, actually Christmas Cheer Board headquarters, but at this time of year it's hard to tell the difference with all of the volunteer "elves" there rolling coins, packing hampers and delivering donations.

When it comes to charity, it all adds up

I received a Season's Greetings card last week from a woman who was basically apologizing for what she saw as a small amount on her cheque.

"Wish this cheque could be more, but as my mom always told us 'when it comes to giving it's the thought that counts!' "

Funny how advice like this is timeless, whether it comes from your mom, your dad, your grandparents or someone else. Especially when it comes to a fundraiser for the Christmas Cheer Board and Winnipeg Harvest that bases itself on the smallest coin denomination we have, the penny.

It's a fundraiser that sees everyone in the city -- from the youngest child to the most elderly person -- able to contribute, because you can contribute everything from a penny to a sizable cheque or folding money.

Bend down, help someone up

An old saying has it that "a good exercise for the heart is to bend down and help another up."

These are words to live by for athletes from the University of Manitoba Bisons sports programs. During the last five days, over 80 athletes from the nine programs volunteered at Siloam Mission preparing food, serving patrons and spreading holiday cheer.

It was the seventh straight year that Bisons student athletes have volunteered at Siloam Mission during the holiday season. How did they fit this in between training for their teams, working their part-time jobs and studying for exams?

"I got up early and went there in the morning, my exam wasn't until after lunch," said Chantal DeSpiegelaere, a member of the Bisons women's hockey team who is in her third year as student co-ordinator of the Bisons volunteers.

Warming hearts with pies

How we're sharing the Christmas spirit:Eight of the special-needs students in the program recently got together, peeled and sliced apples, mixed pie crust and baked 66 apple and saskatoon pies to be donated to Siloam Mission. And, as time permits, they are continuing to bake more with a goal of 100. The pie materials were donated by Sysco Winnipeg and Graham's Grove. "We had one parent, two teachers and four education assistants come in to help the students," said Linda Coombs, co-ordinator of the Bistro. "I said 'If you come, you can learn to put together a pie.' "

How you can help spread the Christmas spirit:Donate to worthy causes such as Siloam Mission so everyone has a chance to enjoy this special season.

Toys give kids holiday joy

Brian Cyncora, Executive director of the Manitoba Police CommissionCharity: Indian and Métis Friendship Centre's Christmas toy drive

How they're sharing the Christmas Spirit: "(My wife Terry and I) are sharing the Christmas spirit this year by helping those who are less fortunate, less privileged, by donating to the IMFC's toy drive. We find there's a large need for underprivileged kids in this community to receive gifts at Christmas time, and the IMFC runs an extremely good program for inner-city kids. Every year, they give about 500 gifts to children in the North End and... many of them get their only gift of that year at that event."

How you can help spread the Christmas spirit: Drop a new, unwrapped gift at Winnipeg Police Service centres across the city by the end of business today. They're at 151 Princess St., 210 Lyle St., 260 Hartford St., 1750 Dugald Rd., 1400 Henderson Hwy., 1086 St. Mary's Rd., and 1350 Pembina Hwy. Nancy Flett, the IMFC's assistant executive director, said they still need donations, so drop by today so hundreds of kids can celebrate the joy of receiving a present.

My Christmas wish: "I always believe in community service and my wish is that more people... with privilege, would contribute to serving the community on a volunteer basis, on a personal level, and to help those with lesser opportunities enjoy and partake in the positive holiday spirit.

Gift will give Siloam Christmas leftovers

COLOR AD GROUP CHARITY: Donated 102 turkeys and $4,000 to Siloam Mission

How I'm sharing the Christmas spirit:"IT'S a good cause," says Ty Schneider, CEO of Color Ad Group. "We'll be doing a lot more of this."

"I think (Siloam) was a wise choice," said Ray Chang, the owner of Color Ad Group. "I'm very impressed with their comprehensive approach" to helping those in need, he said. "Giving is the easy part. Siloam does the heavy lifting."

The turkeys are going to be served as part of a Christmas dinner for about 700 people on Christmas Eve, but they'll likely last a lot longer than that, says Floyd Perras, executive director of Siloam.

Creston’s harvest of goodness Shamattawa RCMP detachment

How they're sharing the

Christmas spirit:

Sgt. Shayne Smith received about 20 to 30 boxes of gifts from the community of Creston, B.C., to distribute in the remote First Nation, as well as hundreds of apples.

The detachment also helped out with transportation costs of getting the goods into the community.

Three-foot angel helps fill bin

I was at two fundraising events for our Pennies from Heaven campaign last weekend.

One was a fashion show and the other was a concert by our Pennies ambassadors, sensational country band Doc Walker.

Thanks to Peppertree Fashions and Connie Hall -- along with all of her angels -- for organizing the fashion fundraiser. The women who modelled the clothes, eyewear and jewelry had a blast and deserved the applause they received.

Attendees also bought tickets for silent auction prizes to help our cause.

The Spirit of Christmas: Families (and their pets) need help

It is the season of giving so I'm ready to share the truth.

Ten years ago, I stole my husband's dog.

No, I didn't raid his man-cave/garage and take the dog to make him come out.

When we got our Angus, a dog that was supposed to be for him, Angus bonded with me.