A few weeks ago, I sent out a cry for someone to find me a December contest within my home state of North Carolina. Fortunately, a few members of my family were listening.

Even better, they found a contest that required little work on my part.

My mom and sister, Beth, each told me about the News & Observer’s Ugly Sweater Contest. Since I already made a horrific sweater for a company Christmas party, all I had to do was upload a picture. And since I lost the company’s contest, this will give me a second chance at ugly sweater glory.

Check out my entry here.

This is an online voting contest and the entry with the most votes will receive a $50 Visa gift card. Naturally, that means that I’ll be begging you to vote for me when the polls are open between Dec. 30 and Jan. 6.

But I’m not just asking you to do this for me.

If I win, I will donate the gift card to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. That’s right. That means your vote for my goofy Grinch sweater could actually help somebody in need.

It’s not exactly the Grinch saving Christmas, but it’s better than nothing.