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November 24, 2009

Every child deserves Christmas | Consider a donation to the Santa Fund

Anonymous The Tribune-Democrat Tue Nov 24, 2009, 10:05 AM EST

Each day, the letters roll in, reminding us here at The Tribune-Democrat why our Santa Fund project is so important.

Since 2007, our readers have contributed more than $45,000 to the Santa Fund to help make sure the children of this area have gifts for the holidays.

We provide and promote the program. But it is our readers who make the difference.

A year ago, even as the national recession was cutting through people’s lives like a cold winter wind, our readers contributed more than $15,000 and helped buy gifts for some 800 youngsters whose families were struggling.

As you can imagine, the need is just as great this year.

We’ve been moved by the giving – more than $10,000 to date in 2009.

And we would urge you to consider making a contribution before the Dec. 4 deadline.

Not one penny of your donations goes to the newspaper.

Every cent is used for the children.

Your donation might reach out and touch one of these:

* The Patton child whose mother is a single parent who is scraping to make ends meet.

* The Johnstown child whose father is a single parent with severe health problems.

* The Vintondale child who is living with an aunt and uncle and whose father is in prison.

* The Portage child whose parents just lost their home to foreclosure.

* The Johnstown child whose father recently returned from Iraq and whose mother has been working three part-time jobs to pay her bills.

Or any of the hundreds of kids across the Cambria-Somerset region whose parents have lost their jobs or had their hours cut, and who are fighting every day to pay for necessities such as food and clothing – with little hope for a special present at Christmas.

Last year, there were 343 different donors to the fund. They each can know they helped at least two of the region’s children by providing a ray of holiday spirit.

“People are giving money to help out total strangers,” said Mike Kane, executive director of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, which administers the Santa Fund.

Kane also noted: “The way that the community has supported the Santa Fund really is a testament to the way our community takes care of itself.

“The holidays are a time when people have a lot of bills and yet the envelopes with checks and dollar bills and the notes that come along are really astounding.”

One envelope that arrived recently contained $8 in cash – probably all that individual could afford, but more than enough to help make a difference.

“We get notes with $2 and an apology that this is all they can give this year,” Kane said.

Other Santa Fund partners include The Family Center, Boscov’s, CamTran, Goodwill Industries, the Girl Scouts and Cambria County CareerLink.

At The Family Center in Johnstown, executive director Mary Shroyer has been with the Santa Fund since its beginnings in 2007.

“It breaks your heart to see what some of these families go through,” Shroyer said. “But they’re so grateful that this program exists. And it’s really what Christmas is all about.”

Yes it is.

As you map out your holiday shopping plans for the coming weeks, we urge you to consider a donation to the Santa Fund.

No amount is too small.

You can help share the spirit of Santa Claus with the children of our region.

How to help

* To contribute to the Santa Fund, send a donation of any amount to:

The Tribune-Democrat Santa Fund

Community Foundation for the Alleghenies

116 Market St., Suite 4

Johnstown, PA 15901

The deadline for contributions is Dec. 4. If you do not want to be acknowledged in the paper, please indicate that. Additionally, donor forms appear regularly in The Tribune-Democrat.

* To nominate a child for the Santa Fund, watch for forms in The Tribune-Democrat.

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