Halloween may be days away, but preparations are well underway for an area Christmas tradition.

The 72nd annual Lions Children’s Christmas Telethon goes December 1st at Canadore College.

The telethon features plenty of area entertainment and will be broadcast on YourTV North Bay and Country 600 CKAT.

There’s also viewing parties in some outlying communities too, with the telethon live streamed at www.canadoretv.com

Committee member Marlene Link says the event helps brighten the holidays for area residents.

“This helps families in the outlying areas to have a better Christmas,” she says. “We supply toys to the children and then we provide food, like a turkey or ham, to the families and Christmas time.”

Donations are already being accepted.

“People can go on our website, even now, they can donate to our cause, then on the day of the telethon there’s a couple numbers they can call,” Link says.

For more information check out www.lionschildrenstelethon.com

According to our story last November, the 71st annual event raised about $25,000.