There are still a few numbers to come in but at a minimum, $256,000 has been raised for the Thunder Bay Christmas Cheer Fund through last Thursday and Friday’s 36 Hours of Cheer here at Acadia Broadcasting.

Thunder Bay Christmas Cheer Fund Chair Joleen Kemp could only describe her feelings as ecstatic after the campaign closed and the final numbers began coming in. “On behalf of Team Red we’re just…we’re…we’re over the moon.”

For a day and a half both 99.9 The Bay and Country 105.3 worked together to promote, fund raise, and showcase all the talent and goodwill the city had for the Christmas Cheer Fund, which will go towards filling holiday hampers for the less fortunate.

Kemp says she is confident the amount raised should be enough to fill the food hampers for 8000 people, and provide the some 4000 children in that number with some gifts for the holidays. But now she wants those who registered for a hamper to do their part.

“There’s no excuse now, you need to come. You know that its also that a small building so we ask that only one family member come in the building, we’ve got volunteers that will bring the hamper to your vehicle once we’ve got everything in order, and it takes about five minutes from beginning to end.”

Volunteers are now putting the hampers together which can be picked up on both Tuesday and Wednesday starting at 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. each day at the CLE Heritage Building.