Published January 7, 2021

 By MAUREEN DOHERTY

NORTH READING — Thanks to the continued generosity of the Transcript’s loyal supporters we’re proud to say that our Neighbor Helping Neighbor Fund (NHNF) has raised $43,337 for the benefit of the town’s home-grown charity, Christian Community Service (CCS).

The success of our 31st annual sponsorship of this non-profit all-volunteer organization speaks volumes about the character of the town’s residents and business owners. Considering what everyone has endured these past 10 months, we’re beyond thrilled that these donations will enable CCS to meet the growing needs of clients who rely on the North Reading Food Pantry to make ends meet in the coming year.

We never expected to surpass last year’s fundraising total of just over $31,500 considering the hardships and uncertainties so many faced in 2020 and may continue to face in the coming months, therefore, exceeding that total by nearly $12,000 is very humbling.

CCS volunteers have also expressed to us how thankful they are for the continued support of our readers to the Neighbor Helping Neighbor Fund. Be assured that these donations will enable them to continue to fund the pantry and emergency financial assistance they provide to the town’s residents. As a non-denominational group of volunteers, all assistance provided without regard to religious affiliation, if any.

While the fund is officially closed for 2020, we will acknowledge any additional checks that may arrive after this week’s deadline because we know the USPS has also experienced significant challenges this holiday season. We ask anyone who has mailed us a donation or dropped off a check intended for the fund to Reading Cooperative Bank but has not yet seen it acknowledged in print to please contact us so we can provide proper acknowledgment next week.

This week we’d especially like to give a shout-out to the Horseshoe Grille and proprietors Pat and Kathi Lee for their donation of $450 from the annual “Do Something Nice, Twice” holiday gift card promotion.

And special thanks to our many “regulars” who annually remember their loved ones with a donation to the fund, such as the $1,000 given in memory of Fredrik & Elna Peterson, Barbara & Robert Edkins, Jean & Walter Chambers, Richard Swanstrom, and Baden “Sonny” West, and also to the family of Paul F. Silvestro who send a donation to honor his memory each year.

Checks are always made payable to “Christian Community Service” or “CCS,” not to the newspaper, and mailed to the North Reading Transcript “NHNF” at 26 Albion St., Wakefield, MA 01880. In-person donations can also be dropped off at our office or deposited in the night drop box (opposite the front door) for contactless donations.

Those with questions about donations may send an email to: NRTranscript@RCN.com or call 781-245-0080.

**Please note: Two typographical errors are being corrected below from last week’s print edition. These errors did not change the monetary subtotal for Week 6 or the new total of donations received last week.

• The donation in memory of Charles P. Emma should have been listed as $25, not $15 last week.

• A $25 donation anonymously given in honor of Alex and Hope Rabasco was inadvertently omitted from the acknowledgment list, but the funds were included in last week’s subtotal of $3,102 and the total funds raised of $41,087.

Transcript 2020 NHNF donor list, week 7:

• In memory of Fredrik & Elna Peterson, Barbara & Robert Edkins, Jean & Walter Chambers, Richard Swanstrom, and Baden “Sonny” West— $1,000

• Horseshoe Grille “Do Something Nice, Twice” fundraiser and Pat & Kathi Lee— $450

• North Reading Transcript— $250

• An Anonymous “Car Guy” — $250

• Richard W. Ham— $100

• In loving memory of Paul F. Silvestro— $100

• In memory of Mike — $100

Week 7 subtotal…………… — $2,250

Previously acknowledged — $41,087

New total …………………… — $43,337