Dec 21, 2003 By Staff 5 min read

First, the good news. Herald-Standard readers contributed $2,635 to the newspaper’s annual Give A Christmas program Friday.

That total marked one of the best single days of the program so far, boosting the campaign’s total to $15,425.

Now for the bad news: The campaign is still far short of its $40,000 goal and there are only two days left before the deadline of noon Tuesday.

“We’re so glad that all those people gave money to help the needy boys and girls in our area,” said Sparkle, the Christmas star and campaign mascot.

She noted that all the Give A Christmas money collected goes to the Salvation Army, which distributes the funds to needy families in the area.

“But time is really running out. We need those donations before the deadline. This is what I was worried about,” added Sparkle. “I knew people would start giving, but Christmas is almost here, and we still have so much to do.”

Friday’s total included several major donations. The biggest contribution was $772.43 from the Hutchinson School Flower Fund.

“I want to thank all the students there. That will help many, many poor boys and girls out there,” said Sparkle. “It’s so nice that children think of our less fortunate children at this time of the year.”

William and Patricia Snoddy of Uniontown donated $500 to the campaign.

“We have been blessed with six wonderful grandchildren who believe that every child everywhere deserves to have a happy and memorable Christmas,” wrote the Snoddys. “God bless them and all of you.”

“That’s so wonderful. It’s very touching,” said Sparkle.”

Dr. Robert E. and Joyce Howes of Brownsville donated $150, and employees of the Fayette County Domestic Relations Section gave $115.

Brenda Hart of Ambridge gave $100 in loving memory of John and Agnes Hart, and an anonymous donor also gave $100.

Along with the donations came several very nice cards.

“We hope you make your goal to help the needy people in our area,” wrote Robert and Helen Horrell of Fairchance.

“I am sending this contribution toward the special Sparkle campaign. I hope your goal is met so that all children in the area will be happy on this special day! Hoping their eyes and smiles on Christmas day will shine as brightly as you do, Sparkle,” wrote Eleanor Vrabec of Smock in memory of her fianc?, Jacob J. Harbiger, and her parents, Thomas and Anna Vrabec.

“Enclosed is a donation in memory of our pappy Elmer Smith of Haydentown,” wrote Dorothy Smith of Smithfield. “We know that he would be proud of our love. Grandchildren, Tyler, Jimmy, Katie, Brandon and Justin Smith.”

“A donation in honor of our first grandchild, Isabel Madison Cline,” wrote Joe and Anna Marie Sarko of Uniontown.

“Dear Sparkle. Please accept our donation to the Give A Christmas fund, which helps needy families in our area,” wrote students in Miss Dubell’s kindergarten class at the Smithfield Elementary School. “Our class played number bingo to raise this money.” The students are Travis Dice, Benjamin Martin, Kaitlin Shipp, Alexandra Shriver, James Smith, Lexus Smith, Adam Stiner, Jason Yauger and Rebecca Zanaglio.

“Dear Sparkle. Please accept this donation in memory of our beloved husband and father Merle R. Rogers. It’s our first Christmas without him, but with our trust in the Lord and love from our family, we will get through this difficult time. Love and best wishes to all in memory of Merle R. Rogers by wife Nancy and sons, Bud and Marty Rogers.”

Other donations came from Carol Laub of Uniontown; Carolyn Robinson of Uniontown in memory of mom, dad and her husband; Robert and Dolores Gabler of Uniontown; James and Mary Shetler of Republic in honor of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren; Nick and Mildred Rodavich of Masontown; Donald P. Matthews and Alverta Matthews of Lemont Furnace in memory of Donald Matthews Jr.; George and Marie Hatalla of Adah; Journey Myers of Brownsville; Mary K. Sykes of Augusta, Ga.; the Point Marion Legion Wednesday Muster Gang in memory of Hugo; employees of the Crime Victims Center; the Whetzel family; in memory of my papa Rocco Bartoni from Amanda Ryczek of Smithfield; Ronald, Tammy, Ronnie, and Heather Keller of Leisenring, in memory of their mother and grandmother, Myrtle Neighbors; Steve and Theresa Petruska of Uniontown; Sandra Lamanna of Perryopolis in memory of her parents, James and Doreen Elwell; Bryan and Ashley O’Keefe of Uniontown in memory of their late grandfather Ed Masci and late grandmother Margaret O’Keefe; Lois Seaton family of New Salem in memory of Ira Seaton Sr.; Charlotte and Lee Miller of Fairchance in memory of Blanch and Alice Swaney and Uha and Dorothy Miller; The Sciullo family; Carrie Christopher-Fascetti and Lisa Christopher of Uniontown in memory of their aunt Ann Trifiro; William Kostelnik III of Euclid, Ohio, in memory of his grandparents William C. and Lois Jean Kostelnik Sr. and his uncle Ernie Scerba, who were lifelong residents of Uniontown; Mae and Barneta Pastorius in memory of their mother Fioretta Pastorius; Rachel Pastorius of Hopwood in memory of her “grandma Pastorius, Uncle Rich and Uncle Jack;” Edward Rabatin of Star Junction “in memory of dear wife Bernice;” John and Catherine Maruca of Uniontown.

Readers are reminded that they can bring their donations to the Herald-Standard offices in Uniontown, Brownsville and Connellsville during business hours or mail them to Give A Christmas, P.O. Box 1147, Uniontown, 15401.