Jingle Bells now World Wide

Remember Jingle Bells? It's still going on and it's bigger than ever. Got this note from KXRA's Patty Wicken today:

Stan:
The 59th Annual Jingle Bells telethon will be held Saturday, December 13 beginning at 5:30 pm (CST) live from the Lake Geneva Christian Center in Alexandria, Minnesota. Hubbard Broadcasting has given prime time to Jingle Bells this year.
No longer will sleepy youngsters be plopped in the middle of the living room floor surrounded by glasses of coke on ice and bowls of popcorn trying to keep their eyes open while they wait for the dollar-amount tree ornaments to reach the top of the tree.
Remember when we were thrilled at the $1000 ornament? Jingle Bells raised $500 in 1949 when it was broadcast the first time on KXRA-Radio. In 2007 Jingle Bells raised over $100,000!!!! Donations came in from all around the United States.
I am writing to ask you to let the Class of '65 know that Jingle Bells will be available on the internet at www.ksax.com and donations can be sent to Alex Jaycees c/o Jingle Bells, PO Box 131, Alexandria, MN 56308.
Jingle Bells typically helps over 1,000 families with food and gift baskets and with hardship funds throughout the year (house fires, cancer benefits, disabling accidents, etc.)
On Sunday, December 14, hundreds of volunteers will pack gift baskets with food (the fixings for a holiday meal along with flour, sugar, cereal, pie ingredients, you name it) and age-appropriate gifts for children in the family.
It's sometimes a little corny but it's the very best of small town/big hearts....and sometimes it's good for our kids and grandkids to see a little bit of what we knew growing up. This year more then ever the need will be great. Thanks, Stan.
Patty Wicken