Readers generous with donations to Give-A-Christmas
Herald-Standard readers are thinking about others this holiday season, sending $1,721 to the Give-A-Christmas campaign and raising the total to $13,757.94.
“Wow! This is so wonderful,” said Sparkle, the Christmas star, who is mascot for the campaign.
“It’s definitely putting me in the Christmas spirit to see the generosity of so many people.
“Remember that we want to raise $40,000 for the Salvation Army and we only have until the end of next week to do it.”
The latest donations came from Farmington, Uniontown, Smithfield, Fairchance, New Salem, Brownsville, Brownfield, Grindstone, Hopwood, Star Junction and Point Marion.
They also sent some nice notes.
“Dear Sparkle, My name is Lauryn. I am 9 years old. My sister Maddie is 6 years old. We would like to send you this money that our Pappy gave us to help make other people’s lives better than they used to be. We like to help kids and adults have a very merry Christmas and a happy new year just like us,” wrote Lauryn and Madison Price of Smithfield, who added, “P.S. Thank you for helping those in need.”
“Sparkle, We hope the enclosed donation will put you closer to achieving your goal. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,” wrote the employees and their families of Lee’s Plumbing and Excavating in New Salem.
“Dear Sparkle, Good luck in meeting your goal this year. God bless all those serving our country. Merry Christmas,” wrote Dale and Nancy Patterson of Farmington, who sent their donation in honor of their grandchildren Ryan Moore, age 6, and Riley Moore, age 20 months.
“Wishing you the best in reaching your goal,” wrote Larraine Susa of Uniontown, who donated in memory of Michael and Martha Susa.
“Dear Sparkle and Herald-Standard employees and all who donated to your fund, Thank you for a great job. May God bless you all,” wrote Betty J. Barnes and family of Uniontown, who donated in memory of Charles W. Barnes, WWII 100 percent disabled POW, and Charles and Ruth Lowry (her husband, father and mother).
“Dear Sparkle, I hope you surpass your goal and hit the million-dollar mark. Merry Christmas to one and all,” wrote Gwendolyn Costello of Fairchance, who donated in memory of parents Russell and Edna Knox, brother Donald Knox and husband Lloyd Costello Sr. and son Mark Costello, who would have celebrated their birthdays this Christmas week.
“We hope this will help you reach your goal this year,” wrote Ed and Jody Yauger of Uniontown, who gave in honor of their grandchildren Annette, Miranda and Jimmy.
“Hope you reach your goal,” wrote Pam and John Barnhart of Uniontown.
“Thanks for all you do,” wrote David and Zoann Callahan and family of Point Marion.
Other donors included Bernice Sesler, in memory of Marlin Sesler and Nellie Franks, Smithfield; Linda Jennings, Uniontown; Robert Sonoga of Mission Viejo, Calif., in memory of brothers Richard S. Sonoga and Thomas R. Sonoga, Uniontown; First United Methodist Church, Brownsville; Lillian Yanik, in honor of grandchildren Adam, Sophia, Isabella, Lucia and Seth Yanik, Mackenzie Over, William, Bobbie Jo and Howie Johnson and Angelica and Hunter, Brownfield; Helen Knupski, Grindstone; Frank and Ann Horvath, Hopwood; Paul and Shirley Ugolini, Star Junction; Neville and Irma Jean Brewer, in honor of the NOTCH Sunday School Class of Brownfield United Methodist Church, Uniontown; Dr. Charles and Sally Callabrese and family, Uniontown; the Adult Senior Sunday School Class of Cherry Tree Alliance Church, Uniontown; anonymous, in memory of Nancy Jane Novotny of Fairchance, Harry “Wess” Lindsay and John H. Evans of Uniontown and Dorothy Carrigan, Uniontown.
Donations will continue to be received until noon Dec. 21. The final amount will be reported in the Christmas Eve edition of the Herald-Standard.
Donations for the campaign can be mailed to Give-A-Christmas, P.O. Box 1147, Uniontown, PA 15401, or brought to the Herald-Standard office in Uniontown during business hours.
Sparkle donation cans have also been placed in numerous store locations in the Herald-Standard readership area.