Published in the January 7, 2016 edition
By BOB TUROSZ
NORTH READING – With the dawn of every new year, when it’s time for the final accounting of the Transcript’s annual Neighbor Fund appeal, we are amazed and reminded for the extraordinary generosity of the North Reading community in general and of Transcript readers in particular.
2016 is no exception to the rule. Again this year well over 100 donors contributed generously to the fund, surpassing $36,000, the highest total ever in the fund’s 26 year history. All of the donations raised will be put to good use for months to come, well into 2016, by the town’s Christian Community Service, made up of representatives of all the town’s churches.
“Community” is much more than a word in the dictionary and, once again, as they have every year since 1990, the readers of this newspaper have stepped up in a big way to help make life a little easier for those who live among us and are in need.
This week’s final push was boosted immeasurably by several large donations, including a $1,000 gift from Air Planning, LLC of Salem, N.H., $300 from Viking Tree and $300 in memory of Richard W. Taylor as well as other thoughtful gifts of $100 and $200 and $1,500 in memory of Fredrik and Elna Peterson, Jean and Walter Chambers and Baden “Sonny” West. And Friends of the Horseshoe Grille added another $250.
All of the funds raised to straight to the Christian Community Service, which runs the North Reading Food Pantry in town hall and assists needy families throughout the year.
In memory of Harry White………………………………………………..…………$100
In memory of Richard W. Taylor………………………………………….………$300
Nancy Fenton……………………………………………………….…………………….$100
Marianne & Chuck Carucci……………………………………………..……………$200
In memory of Ralph Douglas………………………………………………………..$100
Air Planning, LLC…………………………………………………..…………………$1,000
In loving memory of Terry Theriault……………………………………………..$100
In loving memory of our parents, Patricia and John Viall………………..$200
Viking Tree………………………………………………………………..……………….$300
Geoffrey & Patricia Bemiss…………………………………………………………….$50
In memory of Fredrik & Elna Peterson, Jean & Walter Chambers and Baden “Sonny” West………………………………………………………………………………………..$1,500
Friends of the Horseshoe Grille……………………………………………………$250
Veronica Lee……………………………………………………………………………….$100
In loving memory of John Michael and John E. Davis……………………..$100
Total donations this week (as of Jan. 4, 2016)………………………………$4,400
Previously acknowledged…………………………………………………………..$31,669
Total as of Jan. 4, 2016……………………………………………………………..$36,069
