ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) -- For over 100 years, the Arctic League has worked to ensure that every child in Chemung County receives a Christmas gift. On Saturday morning, the 94th Annual Arctic League Broadcast Telethon was held to raise money to make that happen.

Today's mantra for the broadcast and the Arctic League's giving season is, "Think of the children." Today, many people in the community showed that they are, as the broadcast brought in almost $30,000.

"It includes toys and some toiletries and books and crayons and some candies and cookies and so on, to make sure that everyone's Christmas is a little brighter if they can't afford a Christmas," said Bob Kramarik, one of the broadcast's co-hosts and the board president of the Arctic League.

Fellow board member and co-host, Bernadette Clearydrew, has been helping the nonprofit spread holiday cheer for decades. While she is not the only one to do so, the cause for her is quite important. It's about doing a good deed for others as the Arctic League once did for her family.

"I had the best childhood ever and my parents made sure of that because they both came from absolutely nothing, and my father's from-- born and raised in Elmira, God rest his soul, and he and my grandparents always made sure we appreciated the Arctic League because my father never would have had a single thing for Christmas," said Bernadette Clearydrew, the broadcast's phone bank host and Arctic League board member.

The annual telethon gathered performers from all over the area to sing or play holiday songs and encourage the community to call in and send donations.

Today's grand total was $26,990.

"I've got to just say that the broadcast is a gathering of incredible talent all around the area, not just the people that are performing on the show, but the people who come here to set all of the equipment up and to make sure that this happens," said Kramarik. "Everyone in this community comes together in an amazing way to raise money for an amazing cause. It's great."

For those who may have missed Saturday's show and are still in the giving spirit, there are other ways you can donate.

"They can contact us at our Clinton Street address," said David Siskin, another Arctic League board member. "There's a little drop box where they can put money in. They can call any one of the directors if they know them by name. By all means, send us a check. We'd be happy to put it for our next year's collection."

You can also head to the Arctic League's website to send in your donation online. Or, you can head over to one of the League's several auxiliary locations to donate too. A list of those spots can be found here.

Anyone who donates to the cause is asked to sign the Arctic League's "Big Book" and then they will become a member for life.

If you aren't able to help monetarily, another opportunity to help will be here on Christmas Eve. Volunteers can head to the Arctic League to pick up bags for kids to deliver to families in need.

For anyone who may want to register a child to be a recipient of these gifts, a registration form can be found here.

As today's broadcast came to an end, members of the board also left do-gooders and kids with one simple message after today's broadcast.

"We wish everyone listening, watching from wherever they are, to have a very Merry Christmas," said Siskin.

"We truly want to wish every child of Chemung County a Merry Christmas," said Clearydrew. "That's our mission."