Herald-Standard begins annual fund campaign
The 2004 Herald-Standard Give-A-Christmas campaign begins today, with a goal of raising $35,000 for the Salvation Army. The campaign is off to a good start with $2,000 in contributions. A.B.A.T.E. became the first donor, with a contribution of $1,000. The first retail donor is Wal-Mart, which also gave $1,000.
“This is the best start we’ve ever had. Thank you so much. You have been very generous to us,’ said Sparkle, the Christmas star, the official mascot for the campaign.
Sparkle also has a few words for Herald-Standard readers who may be considering becoming part of the campaign.
“I know that all of you are enjoying your Thanksgiving holiday, but this would be a good time to think of others when we count our blessings,’ said Sparkle. “This is our 19th year to be involved in Give-A-Christmas, and we’ve done a lot of good over those years. We’d like to make 2004 another successful season.’
Since its inception in 1986, Give-A-Christmas has raised $545,859.34 for the Salvation Army. The campaign collected its largest single-year total in 2001, when donors brought in $59,688.70, including a $23,204 contribution by Resource America Inc.
Last year, the program raised $38,298.36.
The largest gift came from the Albert Gallatin Education Association, which contributed $10,000.
Albert Gallatin traditionally has raised the most funds each year for the campaign, receiving support from students, parents, teachers and community members.
“Thank you, Albert Gallatin,’ said Sparkle. “You are a big part of this campaign.’
All funds contributed to Give-A-Christmas are turned over to the Salvation Army service units in the Herald-Standard readership area. The total amount collected will be reported in the Christmas Eve edition of the Herald-Standard.
The deadline for donations is noon Thursday, 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 the Give-A-Christmas money is needed.
“We see some people every year, but some parents just lost a job or got laid off. Some just don’t have the money (for Christmas) or don’t make enough money,” said Capt. Debra Stedman of the Uniontown corps.
Shirley Hlafcsak, service unit manager for the Western Pennsylvania Divisional Headquarters of the Salvation Army, wrote a letter of thanks to the Herald-Standard and the help that readers have provided.
She wrote, “The Sparkle Drive proceeds will help our service units throughout the year providing Christmas food baskets, toys for children at Christmastime, warm winter clothing and outerwear, utility and rent assistance, need and merit-based college scholarships for high school seniors, Christmas dinners in Connellsville and Brownsville, disaster services to victims of fire, flood, etc., in communities we serve, and a “Back-to-School’ program that provides needy children with clothing and shoes. …Thank you once again for this generous donation to The Salvation Army Service Units and may God bless.’
The service units of the Salvation Army that receive funds from Give-A-Christmas include the following:
Fayette County
Albert Gallatin, which includes Masontown, Adah, Leckrone, McClellandtown, Ronco, Lamberton, Uledi, Gates, Grays Landing, New Salem, Cardale, Fairbank, Point Marion, Lake Lynn, Martin, New Geneva, Smithfield, Oliphant Furnace, Gans, Fairchance, Brownsville, West Brownsville, Allison, Brier Hill, Chestnut Ridge, East Millsboro, Keisterville, Grindstone, Labelle, Merrittstown, Newell, Republic, Smock, Waltersburg, Hiller, Isabella/Maxwell and Upper Middletown.
Connellsville, which provides for residents of Connellsville, South Connellsville, Champion, Dunbar, Indian Head, Melcroft, Mill Run, Normalville and White.
Hopwood-Markleysburg, which provides for residents of Brownfield, Chalk Hill, Farmington, Gibbon Glade, Hopwood, Markleysburg and Ohiopyle.
Perryopolis-Dawson, which takes care of Dawson, Dickerson Run, Leisenring, Vanderbilt, West Leisenring, Van Meter, Perryopolis, Layton, Star Junction, Whitsett and Wickhaven.
Uniontown, which provides for residents of Uniontown, Lemont Furnace, Mount Braddock and Oliver.
Greene County
The Greene County service center takes care of the entire county.
Somerset County
Confluence, which serves Addison, Confluence, Fort Hill, Listonburg and Ursina.
Washington County
Mon Valley Service Center, which handles Monongahela, New Eagle, Courtney, Elrama, California, Coal Center, Daisytown, Denbo, Richeyville, West Brownsville, Finleyville, Eighty Four, Gastonville and Venetia.
Westmoreland County
Mount Pleasant, which handles residents in Mount Pleasant, Acme, Calumet, Mammoth, Norvelt, Southwest and United.
Scottdale, which serves Scottdale, Everson, Ruffsdale, Alverton and Tarrs.
Donations can be mailed to Give-A-Christmas, P.O. Box 1147, Uniontown 15401 or brought to the desks of the Herald-Standard offices in Uniontown, Connellsville and Brownsville weekdays during business hours.
In addition, Give-A-Christmas donation cans have been placed in 250 stores throughout the Herald-Standard’s distribution area.