Laramie County Community Christmas ramps up

But the effort isn’t over.

The Wyoming Tribune Eagle’s Empty Stocking Fund and the county’s Bar Bucks fundraisers are still collecting money to purchase cards for next year’s Community Christmas.

To date, the Empty Stocking Fund has raised almost $12,000, and Community Christmas organizer Tony Janssen said he has gotten positive feedback from participating pubs about the amount of money raised in the Bar Bucks fundraiser.

“I don’t want to jinx it, but with just a sampling, we’re seeing businesses almost doubling what they were doing last year,” he said. “Their efforts are massively better than they were before.”

Janssen said the improved participation both on the giving and the receiving end could likely be due to increased marketing efforts over social media, particularly Facebook.

“We think the use of social media, the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, some other outlets and particularly Facebook have helped us get the word out,” Janssen said.

Another benefit has been a streamlined application process in which volunteers only ask applicants about their monthly income instead of inquiring about sources of income and other, more “intrusive” inquiries, Janssen said.

People who were approved for preloaded cards can pick them up Wednesday starting at 8 a.m. at American Legion Post 6, 2001 E. Lincolnway.

To pick up a card, people need to bring a form of identification, the Community Christmas letter approving the card and the envelope the approval letter came in.

Those who would still like to make a cash-deductible donation can send a check or cash to the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, 702 W. Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY 82001.

They also can donate at a pub or restaurant participating in the Bar Bucks fundraiser.

Janssen said people should feel good about donating to the cause.

“Every dollar donated goes right back into the community to those who need a little help,” Janssen said. “We have a less than 1 percent overhead on what we do with those dollars.”