Nov 30, 2009 By The 2 min read

In just over three weeks, Sparkle hopes to have raised $40,000 for the Give-A-Christmas campaign. “The money collected will go the Salvation Army, to help those less fortunate, during these difficult times,” said Sparkle, the campaign’s mascot.

The campaign’s total currently stands at $2,500. The yearly effort goes on through noon on Dec. 23, and the final total raised will be reported in the Christmas Eve edition of the Herald-Standard.

“If you’re able, please consider donating to the campaign. Whatever you give can be of great help to friends and neighbors you might not realize are in need,” Sparkle said.

Any money given to the campaign goes to the service unit of the Salvation Army where the donor lives. However, readers can designate a specific unit in the Herald-Standard’s readership area if they prefer.

The service units do not share funds.

Readers who live in Uniontown, for instance, will see their donations go to the Uniontown Worship and Service Center.

Those who live in Brownsville and Masontown will have their donations go to the Albert Gallatin Service Center.

Donations by Connellsville area residents will go to the Connellsville Service Center. The Hopwood-Markleysburg Service Unit will use donations from Hopwood and Farmington residents.

Vanderbilt residents will have funds sent to the Perryopolis-Dawson Service Unit. And all donations from Greene County residents will go to the Greene County Service Center.

Donations can be mailed to Give-A-Christmas, PO. Box 1147, Uniontown, Pa. 15401, or brought to the Herald-Standard office in Uniontown during business hours.

Sparkle cans also have been placed in 250 store locations in the Herald-Standard distribution area, and donations can also be made at the Salvation Army’s Christmas Castle at Uniontown Mall.