Herald-Standard kicks off Christmas fund drive for needy
The 2003 Give A Christmas campaign kicks off today with a $1,000 donation by Wal-Mart. Officials hope to raise $40,000 this holiday season to benefit the Salvation Army.
“I hope that many of you will be able to participate in this very worthy cause,’ said Sparkle, the Christmas star, who is the official mascot of the campaign. “We recognize that there are people who are less fortunate and we want to help them.’
Since its inception in 1986, Give A Christmas has raised $507,560. 98 for the Salvation Army.
Last year, the campaign fell short of reaching its $40,000 goal but was able to raise $36,297.14.
“I think that’s wonderful,’ Sparkle said. “Anyone who contributed should be proud.’
Funds raised by Give A Christmas are used to help Salvation Army programs in the Herald-Standard readership areas provide for those in need.
In 2002, the Albert Gallatin School District was the largest donor, contributing $8,939.30 to the campaign. Students, teachers, staff and parents made the donation.
Although the campaign didn’t reach its goal in 2002, in the previous three years, Give A Christmas raised more than $40,000 each season. In 2001, the campaign total stood at $59,688.70 after the final donations came in, including a donation of $23,204 by Resource America Inc. That was the largest donation in 2001, followed by the Albert Gallatin School District where students, teachers, parents and friends donated $9,186.81.
The Albert Gallatin School District traditionally has raised the most funds each year for the campaign.
But funding for Give A Christmas comes from readers throughout the area: individuals, families, churches, schools, organizations and businesses who want to become involved.
“We’re thankful that we have people who want to help,’ Sparkle noted. “And by working together, we help people in our own community.’
All funds contributed to Give A Christmas are turned over to the Salvation Army, which has 16 branches in the Herald-Standard readership area. This is the 18th year that the campaign has been in operation.
The total amount collected will be reported in the Christmas Eve edition of the Herald-Standard. Deadline for donations is noon on Tuesday, Dec. 23.
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.
And Give A Christmas funds are needed.
Capt. Debra Stedman of the Uniontown Corps of the Salvation Army said, “What we raise determines the services we can offer. If people come in and need something – like clothing – if we don’t have the funds, we can’t write the vouchers.’
While several local branches of the Salvation Army offer holiday programs – including food baskets, funding from Give A Christmas can help the Salvation Army provide services for people throughout the year.
The 10 units of the Salvation Army that receive funds from the campaign include:
Fayette County
Brownsville services Brownsville, Smock, Keisterville, Allison, Brier Hill, Chestnut Ridge, East Millsboro, Grindstone, Hiller, Isabella, LaBelle-Maxwell, Merrittstown, Newell, Republic, Upper Middletown and Waltersburg.
Connellsville provides for residents of Connellsville, South Connellsville, Dunbar, Indian Head, Melcroft, Mill Run, Normalville, White and Champion.
Dawson-Perryopolis takes care of residents in Perryopolis, Layton, Star Junction, Whitsett, Wickhaven, Dawson, Dickerson Run, Leisenring, Vanderbilt, Van Meter and West Leisenring.
Hopwood-Markleysburg takes care of residents in Brownfield, Hopwood, Chalk Hill, Markleysburg, Farmington, Gibbon Glade and Ohiopyle.
Masontown services Adah, Gates, Cardale, Fairbank, Hibbs, Lambert, Leckrone, McClellandtown, Grays Landing, Masontown, New Salem, Ronco, Uledi, Lake Lynn, Martin, New Geneva, Point Marion, Fairchance, Gans, Oliphant Furnace and Smithfield.
Uniontown provides for Uniontown, Mount Braddock, Lemont Furnace and Oliver.
Greene County Service Center takes care of all of Greene County.
Somerset County
Confluence services Addison, Confluence, Fort Hill, Listonburg and Ursina,
Washington County
Mon Valley Service Center handles Monongahela, Courtney, California, Daisytown, Richeyville, Findleyville, Gastonville, New Eagle, Elrama, Coal Center, Denbo, West Brownsville, Eighty-four and Venetia.
Westmoreland County
Scottdale services Scottdale, Everson, Ruffsdale, Alverton and Tarrs.
Mount Pleasant handles residents in Mount Pleasant, Acme, Calumet, Mammoth, Norvelt, Southwest, and United.
Donations can be mailed to Give a Christmas, P.O. Box 1147, Uniontown 15401 or brought to the front desks of the Herald-Standard offices in Uniontown, Connellsville and Brownsville weekdays during business hours.