Community spirit sparkles
The 2002 Give A Christmas campaign gets under way today with an ambitious goal. During the next few weeks, the Herald-Standard and its sister paper, the Greene County Messenger, will be collecting donations for the Salvation Army. We are hoping to raise $40,000 this year to help make the holidays a little brighter for those who have fallen on hard times. While the Salvation Army carries out its mission in our community throughout the year, a special emphasis is placed during this season on caring for our neighbors.
As is always the case with Give A Christmas, money raised from a community stays within the community. For example a family from New Salem who want to make a monetary gift as part of their holiday celebration will be assured that the money will help their neighbors in New Salem, Cardale, Fairbank, Hibbs, Isabella and Uledi. (For a complete listing of Salvation Army service areas, see today’s news story on the campaign.)
Over the years we have been touched by all the children who have pooled their pennies together to make a difference, by the schools that have held special drives for the campaign, by area businesses who have pitched in and shown that their companies consist of people with big hearts. Already the folks at Wal-Mart have kicked off the campaign with a $1,000 donation. Last year, Resource America Inc. contributed $23,204, by far the largest donation ever to the campaign. And the teachers, students, staff and friends of the Albert Gallatin School District continue to astonish all with substantial donations year after year.
As important as these large contributions are, the $1 bill taped inside a card with a note to the campaign’s mascot Sparkle sent in by a child is just as endearing.
It is the spirit of the holidays and the spirit of community that is celebrated. Every year, and we expect that this year will be no different, we are touched by the generosity of our readers. On behalf of the Salvation Army we thank all of you who have contributed in the past and extend our warmest wishes to those who plan to again make Give A Christmas part of their holiday celebration.