Give-A-Christmas campaign brings $832
The 2002 Give-A-Christmas campaign got off the ground Monday, bringing in a total of $832 in donations. That increased the campaign total to $1,832. Wal-Mart had helped kick off the campaign with a $1,000 donation. The campaign goal is $40,000. Last year, a total of $59,688.70 was raised.
Monday marked the first day of donations from local residents since the campaign started last Thursday.
Sparkle, the Christmas star, the official mascot for the campaign said she was glad to see the donations had started rolling in but noted that there’s only three weeks left until Christmas.
“Since Thanksgiving came later this year than normal, we have less time to collect money,’ said Sparkle. “I just hope people don’t wait until the last minute to make a donation or forget altogether because everyone’s going to be very busy over the next three weeks.
“I know it’s going to be a challenge to meet our goal,’ Sparkle added. “But the people here are so kind and generous. I’m certain we’ll reach our goal and even go over it.’
All funds contributed to the campaign are turned over to the Salvation Army, which has 16 branches in the Herald-Standard and Greene County Messenger readership areas. This is the 17th year that the campaign has been in operation.
Donations by readers are sent to the service unit that provides for the area in which they live. But readers can designate that their funds go to another service unit. Service units do not share funds. All money raised in an area stays in that area unless the donor requests otherwise.
The total collection will be reported in the Christmas Eve edition of the Herald-Standard and the Dec. 26 edition of the Greene County Messenger. Deadline for donations is noon on Monday, Dec. 23.
Donations can be mailed to Give-A-Christmas, P.O. Box 1147, Uniontown, 15401 or the front desks of the Herald-Standard offices in Uniontown, Brownsville, Connellsville and the Greene County Messenger office in Waynesburg weekdays during business hours.
Today’s contributors are: Robert and Therese Firestone, Uniontown, in memory of parents and relatives Charles and Veronica Kvasnovsky, Charles Kvasnovsky Jr., Norman and Rose Firestone Sr., Norman and Evelyn Firestone Jr., Timothy Paul Firestone, Thomas A. Kodric, Anthony and Margaret Kodric, John and Mary Adams (grandparents), Marie Kazimer, Veronica Baughman, Frank and Katherine Marfi, Margaret Anderson, Mary Hernansky, Anna Shimko and Julia Begovich; Paul Verska, Masontown; Larry, Ginnie and Keeley McVey, Grindstone; Anonymous, Uniontown; James Robert Newman, New Salem, in loving memory of Mom and Dad – Inez and William Newman, best friend – C. Gerald DeBolt, little buddy – Bandit and in honor is sisters, Barbara DeGiovine, Gail Mack and Cheryl Dietz; Virginia McIlwain, Uniontown; Mary Kochis, Uniontown; Anonymous, Uniontown.