A Marina resident suffering from a debilitating neck injury that had kept him from working for 15 months. His disability checks had run out in October.
With custody of two sons, ages 8 and 13, he wondered how he’d pay rent and other bills, while awaiting the outcome of a drawn-out worker compensation case and recent applications for assistance.
The Salvation Army helped him pay his rent in November.
Another Marina man, just scrapping by after enduring 35 surgeries. Diabetic, over 50 and living off a $860 disability insurance check. He sought help from the Salvation Army after one of his disability checks didn’t arrive. The agency helped him pay his rent.
A woman with five children loses her husband to cancer and, during that painful time, loses the family business as well. After being evicted, she moves in with her brother. She sleeps on a couch in the apartment. The children all share a room. And still they have problems paying rent and the power bill. Salvation Army helps with the bills.
These aren’t stories from this year, they are from 20 years ago. In 2004, the Herald was in its 19th year of a partnership with First Capital Bank and the Salvation Army to raise funds. Operation Christmas Cheer was established in 1985 in response to the death of Danny Holley, a local 13-year-old who had died by suicide after telling others he felt he was too much of a burden on his financially strapped family. Organizers wanted to give folks a way to help out, no matter how large or small the donation. None of the money raised is used for administrative costs.
That hasn’t changed, nor has the need for help in our community. This year, thanks to the generosity of The Herald’s readers, Operation Christmas Cheer raised more than $18,000, a significant increase from last year. More than $2.6 million has been raised since Operation Christmas Cheer’s inception. In the past, the Salvation Army has used those funds to help pay for things such as Christmas toys for children, holiday food boxes for families, transitional and emergency housing, as well as rental and utility assistance, among other things.
“There are so many people trying to help us, it’s like they’re pushing us in the right direction,” said one woman whose family had been helped by the Salvation Army. To show appreciation, the woman and her husband volunteered at the Salvation Army by passing out food baskets one Thanksgiving.
“We’re always willing to give a helping hand,” she said. “We don’t have anything to offer, but our time.”
A unique aspect of Operation Christmas Cheer was that contributors were able to use coupons printed in The Herald or a direct link to 1st Capital Bank to have personalized messages published in the newspaper. Here is the latest list:
Attributed gifts with message
Mrs Michel Nasr: Let heaven and nature sing joy to the world, $500
Lori Crouse and Joe Shepard: Merry Christmas from Payment Point Solutions, $350
Jane Altavilla: To honor lovely Lundy Family, $200
Mary Jeanne Vincent & Richard W Gadd: To support a kinder more joyful world, $125
Dave Kellogg: To Penny and Clay who inspire me every holiday season, $100
Susan Murphy: For all the wonderful volunteers, $100
K & M Sheffer: Karen Ho! Mike Ho! Millie Woof! $100
Bill & Kathi Wojtkowski: Happy Holidays, $100
Arlen Grossman & Nancy Allison: Gracie & Lucy wish everyone Happy Holidays! $75
Laureen Simpson: Merry Christmas and blessings for the New Year, $50
Ann Schrader: Merry Christmas to all, $50
Joan & Reno: Wishing everyone fulfillment of your needs! Health, Prosperity, Peace, Love, Joy, $50
Kim Bui & Steven Silveria: In memory of Doung Bui, dearly beloved, greatly missed, $50
Nancy Harray: Wishing everyone a good New Year, $50
Attributed gifts without message
Grange Womens Association, $100
Fred & Phyllis Meurer, $100
Elizabeth Brown, $50
Anonymous gifts with message
Because we all need a little help from our friends, $1,000
God bless you, Salvation Army for helping those in need and sharing the love of Jesus! $1,000
Peace on Earth! Good will towards ALL! $777
For our parents who deserved far more credit than we gave them, $500
We hope you have a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year, $200
I hope this helps make someone’s holidays happier & less stressful, $200
May the world come together in Peace and Love, $200
In memory of Dave Harn, $100
To honor the good works of St. Anthony, $100
Frohe Weihnachten, Joyeux Noel, Feliz Navidad and Merry Christmas, $100
Have a safe and Merry Christmas! $100
Remembering my loved ones: Earl, Don & Jim, $100
May God’s blessings be with you this holiday season, $100
Warm hugs for A & P Love Gramsy, $100
Seasons Greetings, $100
Be of good cheer-There’s a New Year out there, $100
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas, $50
In memory of James & Louise Roberts who modeled good citizenship and generosity to all, $50
Total anonymous gifts without message $540
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