Believe it or not, Christmas is just a few short weeks away. And this year, like all those before, there are youngsters out there who might not have a Christmas at all if we don’t pitch in.

The annual Cheer Fund campaign, which raises thousands of dollars every year for the Toys for Tots program in Suffolk, kicked off this weekend with the third annual Paul Lux Bicycle Ride.

In years past, because of the generosity of folks like you, the Cheer Fund has raised tens of thousands of dollars, and because of that, thousands of children in Suffolk woke up Christmas Day with smiles on their faces.

This year’s goal, of around $47,000, may seem like a lot of money, but when you consider that last year nearly 2,800 children were served, that works out to slightly less than $18 per child.

We know that many of you have already designated money for other charitable institutions, and that is admirable. But for those of you who have not yet decided, or if you are just now thinking about doing something like this, we ask that you consider the Cheer Fund first.

All the money collected goes to toys. There are no operating costs for this proram.

And you will be helping children right here at home.