Donating at holiday time is the theme of two well-read stories in today's Erie Times-News. Sharla Bardin, in her front-page report on the "Giving Season," discovered that Erie folks tend to be a generous lot, especially at this time of year.

In his "Good Morning" column on page 2, Doug Rieder described the experience of "begging for donations" every year on Times Old Newsies Day. The Newsies are a group of about 400 men and women who don funny-looking aprons and stocking caps on the first Friday of every December. They fan out to almost every business throughout Erie County, stand in front of entrances and exits, and ask strangers for donations. Those who give receive a special "Newsie" newspaper and a tag.

Every penny, as Rieder points out, goes toward food baskets for the needy during the holiday season. This year, more than $81,000 was collected by the Newsies, and, as a result, hundreds of food baskets will be assembled.

So, is it an onerous task to beg for donations for the Newsies? I'd bet that most members of the group would say that it's not. I've been collecting with the Newsies for 17 years and find it quite invigorating, actually. What's interesting is that you never know who's going to approach you and drop $20 in your bucket. You might get brushed off by individuals who appear well-to-do, but then rewarded by a person dressed in virtual rags. It's not an exaggeration, although my experience has been that most folks are extremely generous on Old Newsies Day, regardless of their lot in life.

So, what do the Newsies get out of it? Well, the Erie Times-News feeds us well, and there's a nice picnic every August. But mostly it's the satisfaction of getting out in the cold and collecting funds for someone who can really use it.

Earlier this month, as I was standing in the chow line at the Erie Maennerchor Club after a long day of collecting in the cold, an elderly man approached and stuffed some bills in my shirt pocket. "Look, somehow I missed you guys today, but I want to do my part," he said. "Many years ago, the Newsies came to the aid of my family when we were going through a rought stretch. Now I'd like to help out somebody else."

Then he left, almost as quickly as he'd arrived. I took out the bills and counted $80. If that doesn't give you a warm feeling, nothing will.

The Old Newsies, originally called the Times Old Newsboys, have been in business since 1939. Thousands of individuals have been helped by the group over the years.

There's still time to give. Just mail your contribution to: Times Old Newsies, P.O. Box 6141, Erie, Pa. 16512. Make your check out to: Times Old Newsies.

I'm proud to be a part of this charitable group, sponsored by the Erie Times-News. When they tell us, "No matter how cold it is out there, you'll have a warm feeling this Christmas," I believe.

-- Kevin Cuneo