Published December 17, 2020

By MAUREEN DOHERTY

NORTH READING — With Christmas just eight days away, the readers of this newspaper continue to demonstrate their generosity through their support of the 31st annual Neighbor Helping Neighbor Fund (NHNF).

During the past week, an additional $5,300 was donated to the NHNF, which brings the current tally to benefit Christian Community Service (CCS) to $32,710.

Every dollar donated to CCS remains in town to help struggling families and individuals make ends meet throughout the year.

CCS volunteers are truly that — they volunteer their time, energy and resources to help others. No one ever draws a salary thus directing every dollar to help neighbors going through a rough time.

CCS runs the town’s Food Pantry year-round and provides Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner baskets to Food Pantry clients, in addition to gifts of warm clothing and special toys at the holidays to the children of its clients.

Additionally, CCS provides emergency financial aid to clients with a demonstrated need, such as help with an auto repair bill to enable a client to drive to work, or funds to fix a major appliance. The assistance is paid directly to the provider of the service. Those accepting financial assistance from CCS must agree to utilize the Food Pantry too, which enables clients to save money normally spent on food and household necessities and put it toward other bills. All assistance is provided confidentially by CCS.

Every donation is meaningful no matter the amount. As a 501(c)(3) organization, all donations to CCS are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. CCS is non-denominational and made up of representatives and volunteers from the town’s churches. Assistance is provided without regard to religious affiliation, if any.

Significant contributions received this week include $1,000 donations from David Donnelly and Paul and Marci Bailey. An anonymous donor chose to honor family and friends with a $400 contribution. Brosseau Construction pitched in $300 as did the Wiklanskis. Many more memorial donations were received as well, including three beloved pet bunnies, Bonnie, Huey and Stomper, who have been remembered by this special donor since the fund began.

Do something nice, twice

The “do something nice, twice” promotion continues at the Horseshoe Grille, 226 Main St., which offers its patrons a chance to give back to the NHNF. This program is offered by Pat and Kathi Lee, owners of the Horseshoe. Those who purchase $100 in gift cards to their restaurant during the holiday season are eligible to receive a $20 gift certificate for themselves to use at their restaurant. However, upon request, the Lees will donate the $20 face value of the give-back certificate to the NHNF and CCS.

At the conclusion of their holiday gift card sales, the Horseshoe will write a check representing the funds raised, and the Lees will also match those funds. The Transcript will acknowledge the total donation from the challenge when we conclude the fund for the season just after the new year.

How to donate

As promised, the Transcript will acknowledge each donation received in print and pass them on to CCS. Those who donate $250 or more will be automatically mailed a tax receipt. CCS will provide receipts upon request for donations under $250 if the donor provides a name and address.

Donors are welcome to dedicate their donations to a loved one; simply include a note with your check.

And you can be assured that if you wish to remain anonymous your donation will truly remain so as confidentiality is guaranteed both in our handling of donations received and in the way in which donations are handled by CCS. Over the years there have been many donors who have consistently made anonymous donations and that choice is always respected. To help keep the weekly tally straight we may add a word such as “anonymous snowman” to differentiate between various anonymous donors, especially if the amounts are the same.

Please make checks payable to “Christian Community Service” or “CCS,” not to the newspaper. Checks may be mailed to the North Reading Transcript “NHNF” at 26 Albion St., Wakefield, MA 01880. You may also drop donations off in person at our office at the above address in downtown Wakefield (a night drop box is located opposite the front door for contactless donations).

Those who wish to drop off their donation in person closer to home may also do so at the North Reading branch of the Reading Cooperative Bank, 170 Park St. (next to Ryer’s Store). Please specify to the bank teller your intention to donate to the Transcript’s “Neighbor Helping Neighbor Fund” to ensure it is recorded on the tally sheet as you would like it to appear in print. The bank forwards these sheets to us for acknowledgement in the newspaper.

Transcript 2020 NHNF donor list, week 4:

• Paul & Marci Bailey—$1,000

• David Donnelly—$1,000

• Remembering Family & Friends 2020—$400

• Brosseau Construction— $300

• Ellen & John Wiklanski—$300

• Chuck & Marianne Carucci— $250

• Anonymous Sailor— $200

• Donated in memory of James (Jim) R. Senior— $200

• Everett & Molly Leonard— $200

• Denise & Tom Lumb— $200

• Anonymous Penguin—$150

• The Cutlip Family— $100

• In memory of Trank & Virginia Chiovoloni— $100

• In memory of Bonnie, Huey & Stomper— $100

• Mary C. Cullen— $100

• Lina & Ottaviano Gallotto— $100

• Maria Spina— $100

• Hao & Wei Chen— $100

• Paula & Joseph Evans— $100

• Merry Christmas Alexis, Max, Kyle, Jackson, Allison & Hugo— $60

• The Coffee Ladies— $50

• Anonymous Snowman— $50

• In loving memory of Raia— $50

• In loving memory of Dan O’Donnell, Love Always, Joan— $50

• Murray & Mercury— $25

• In memory of Mariah Daly— $15

Week 4 subtotal —

$5,300

Previously acknowledged — $27,410

New total —

$32,710