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By The Daily Gleaner

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Speak Up

Operation Keep the Change is in full swing.

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The fundraiser that collects coins for local charities was launched at the Nashwaaksis Kin Club Parade on the weekend.

The campaign, which began through a partnership between Astral Media Radio stations and The Daily Gleaner, raised more than $23,000 last year.

Jennifer Cox, promotions director for Astral Radio, said it looks like the fundraiser will be a success again this year.

"We don't have the totals yet, but people are responding well to Operation Keep the Change," Cox said. "Lots of people are talking about collecting and we have a bunch of (collection) jugs out in the community now."

Change will be collected at a number of schools and businesses until the end of next week.

Some of the participating businesses include Trius Inc., Fredericton Mitsubishi and the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

"We provide the businesses with containers that they can collect their spare change in," said Joel Dickinson, advertising director for The Daily Gleaner.

"On Dec. 12-14, they can bring their containers to the Regent Mall to dump their change into an oversized container that we'll have set up."

Money raised will go to the Fredericton Community Kitchen, the food banks in Fredericton and Oromocto, and the Salvation Army,

Dickinson said the goal is to raise more money for those organizations than last year.

"This time of year is especially difficult for these charities to meet the demands that are put on them," Dickinson said. "Operation Keep the Change gives them that little extra to help them meet those demands."

Sponsors for Operation Keep the Change are The Daily Gleaner, 106.9 Capital FM, 105.3 FM The Fox, Today's Country KHJ, TD Canada Trust, Wacky Wheatleys, Regent Mall, Massive Graphics and Valley Graphics.