For the 14th year, 98.7 The River will brighten the holidays of local families coping with cancer. Starting November 28, and every weekday for two weeks, we will share one letter each day, written by a nurse or social worker at The Children's Hospital At Memorial or Anderson Cancer Institute on the Memorial campus. Each letter is about a local family coping with the cancer of a child or parent during the holidays--families that don't have much to begin with, and when you add cancer to the equation, you understand how important it is to keep the spirit of Christmas alive for these kids. These are families not expecting any visit from Santa this year. Your donations of cash, checks or gift cards will help put smiles on faces that haven’t experienced much happiness lately. Over the past 13 years we have raised more than $250,000 for our various local families…thanks to you.

During Christmas Wish, when a particular story moves you we ask you to help. Note that no family receives cash. All donations are turned into SunTrust Visa Cards for the families to use for Christmas shopping or we purchase the items they have requested. If a bill must be paid, we will do that for them. We cannot accept previously used toys or clothing, largely for health reasons since each of these families has members with a compromised immune system. We ask that you limit your donations to cash, checks, or gift cards (Visa, American Express, Walmart, Target, etc.).

Here's how you can help:
• Call me at 912-629-7434 or email us and tell us how you'd like to assist a family whose story moved you.

• Donate a department or grocery store gift card, cash, or check. Gift cards must be brought or mailed to the station. Please put the family's name on the card. Remember...gift cards must be brought or mailed to the station as the bank is unable to accept these. Consider "adopting" one of our families at work, in your neighborhood, or civic group and take care of their needs and wishes.

• Cash and check donations ONLY can be taken directly to any branch of SunTrust Bank* in Georgia or South Carolina. Please indicate the name of the family you want to help by putting the name of the family on the memo line of the check. Put the family’s name on the card or on the envelope. We also have a general fund if you want your donation split among this year's ten featured families. Checks should be made payable to Christmas Wish. You can mail your donation directly to: 98.7 The River Christmas Wish 245 Alfred Street Savannah GA 31408. Be sure to put the family or person’s name on the memo line of your check.

NOTE! We have all ten letters posted now, but we will still collect donations through Friday December 14. Gift cards can be brought or mailed to the radio station; cash donations dropped at SunTrust or mailed to the station. Thanks!

*For the SunTrust location nearest you, click here