Holiday fund provides for neighbors
GOAL: $50,000
CURRENT TOTAL: $60
With $60 in donations so far, the Herald-Standard’s Give-A-Christmas campaign hopes to raise $50,000 this holiday season to assist the Salvation Army in helping those in need in local communities.
Donna Fencik, divisional director of marketing and public relations for the Western Pennsylvania Divisional Headquarters of the Salvation Army, reported the Salvation Army served more than 14,800 meals in 2014 in Fayette County, an increase of 28 percent over the previous year. In addition, more than 10,000 toys and gifts were distributed throughout the county.
In Greene County, Fencik noted, the Salvation Army grocery orders increased significantly over the previous year to 1,274 orders distributed.
Fencik said, “Needs in Fayette County, as well as in several other counties within the 28-county service area of the Western Pennsylvania Division, are experiencing similar increases this year over last year.”
Sparkle, the Christmas star, who is the official mascot for the campaign, now in its 30th year, remarked, “Give-A-Christmas allows our readers to help their neighbors because the money they donate goes directly to the branch of the Salvation Army that serves the area in which they live. There is no sharing of funds but readers can designate their donation be given to any branch they choose in the Herald-Standard readership area.”
Sparkle is also asking readers to support the Herald-Standard Give-A-Christmas Day that is being held in partnership with the Salvation Army from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, December 4.
All Herald-Standard executives, directors and other employees who volunteer will be out at 20 locations throughout the readership area, passing out newspapers to people who make contributions to the campaign.
“We hope you’ll stop by and offer your support,” said Sparkle. “We want to reach our goal of collecting $50,000 during this Christmas season to help the Salvation Army as it works to help your neighbors in need.”
Donations to the campaign will be accepted until noon on Dec. 23 and the grand total will be announced in the Christmas Eve edition of the Herald-Standard.
Readers can make on-line donations to the campaign at salvationarmywpa.org/GiveAChristmas.
Donors can also mail contributions to Give-A-Christmas, c/o Herald-Standard, 8-18 E. Church St., Uniontown, PA 15401 or bring them to the Herald-Standard office in Uniontown from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Sparkle cans also have been placed in numerous store locations in the Herald-Standard distribution area.