Published November 29, 2018

By MAUREEN DOHERTY

NORTH READING — The Transcript’s 29th annual Neighbor Helping Neighbor Fund Christmas drive to benefit Christian Community Service (CCS) has received its first donations of the holiday season totaling $350.

Founded by the Transcript in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War to assist our neighbors who were having difficulty purchasing home heating oil and other essentials during the cold winter months, the funds donated in the ensuring years by our readers have become a reliable income stream that enables CCS volunteers to help clients year-round.

“Christian Community Service is an all-volunteer organization comprised of members of each of the North Reading churches. It was formed in 1975 to provide financial assistance to those in need in North Reading,” explains Ellen Wiklanski, the current chairwoman of CCS.

In the decades since the Transcript teamed up with CCS, Wiklanski points out that the Neighbor Helping Neighbor Fund has provided more funding to CCS than any other single source of support.

“All financial support is paid directly to the entity where the household has an emergency need, such as to a landlord for rent, a utility company that is ready to terminate service, or for emergency car repairs, etc. No money is ever given directly to the client,” Wiklanski added.

“The most visible function of CCS is now the North Reading Food Pantry which currently serves 110 households each month. The eligibility to use the pantry is North Reading residency or recommendation from Clergy in a North Reading church. To quality for financial assistance, clients must also use the Food Pantry, giving them the chance to stretch their household budget by providing both non-perishable items as well as fresh produce, and frozen meats,” she explained.

“Funds from the Neighbor Helping Neighbor campaign allow the Food Pantry to buy groceries and other taxable items, such as cleaning supplies and personal care items, throughout the year,” she said.

CCS is an ecumenical organization and assistance is provided based on financial need regardless of the recipient’s religious affiliation, if any. CCS is also a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and since it is all-volunteer, there aren’t any salaries support and overhead is extremely low.

“CCS also provides many one-time services during the year, such as back-to-school supplies, clothing for children, Halloween costumes, the Take-a-Tag program of Christmas gifts, and holiday dinner baskets,” Wiklanski said, adding, “All of the programs benefit from the Neighbor Helping Neighbor Fund sponsored by the Transcript.”

The amazing part of this story is that these funds are donated by our readers during the few weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s each year. The first first few hundred dollars we received this week will be multiplied many times over in the coming weeks as we strive to surpass last year’s tally of $35,385. 

All donations will be acknowledged in the Transcript each week. Those who wish to remain anonymous should indicate this preference on their check or in a note.

Horseshoe gift card

give back

Pat and Kathi Lee, proprietors of the Horseshoe Grille, 226 Main St., are offering patrons a chance to give back to the Transcript’s Neighbor Helping Neighbor Fund. During the Christmas season, for every $100 spent on gift cards to the restaurant the Horseshoe offers a $20 voucher back to the purchaser. Simply let the clerk know that you’d prefer to apply the $20 face value of the Horseshoe Grille voucher to be donated to the Transcript’s Neighbor Helping Neighbor Christmas fund. At the end of the holiday season the Lees will write a check to CCS representing the funds donated by their patrons through this incentive, which will be acknowledged by the newspaper.

How to donate

Donations to CCS are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. CCS automatically provides receipts to those who donate $250 or more. Tax receipt for donations of any amount will be provided upon request by the donor; please provide your name and address so that CCS may mail you a receipt.

The Transcript will acknowledge all donations in the newspaper each week. Checks should be made payable to “Christian Community Service” or “CCS” only, not to the newspaper. Checks may be mailed c/o Transcript NHNF, P.O. Box 7, North Reading, MA 01864.

Those who wish to drop of their donations in person may do so at the North Reading branch of the Reading Cooperative Bank, 170 Park St. (next to Ryer’s Store). Please specify to the teller your intention to make a donation to the Transcript’s Neighbor Helping Neighbor Fund. Or stop by our office at 26 Albion St. in downtown Wakefield (there is a mail slot in the alcove opposite the front door if you arrive after-hours).

Let’s keep working together to make the 2018 Neighbor Helping Neighbor Fund drive the most successful it has ever been.

Transcript’s 2018 NHNF

donor list:

• Wishing all a Happy Christmas from Donald L. Daniel ……….$250

• In loving memory of Karen St. Pierre ………………………………….$50

• In memory of Dick Smith …………………………………………………..$50

Total Week 1 — …………..$350