Editorial for November 27, 2008 edition:

You’re the difference

Most folks reading this are about to enjoy or have just finished eating a lavish Thanksgiving dinner.
The holiday season is a time for get-togethers among family, friends and co-workers. In four weeks, most of us will sit down on Christmas Day for another feast.
For hundreds of families in Northeast Philadelphia, however, the holiday season is a painful one. Not everybody gets to eat a turkey dinner with all the trimmings on Christmas.
The Northeast Times is trying to do something about that. For the 53rd consecutive year, the Times is asking its readers to contribute to the newspaper’s Eleanor Smylie Community Fund, started so long ago by the late chairwoman and matriarch of the family that owned the newspaper for 65 years. The fund helps provide meals and presents for some of the less fortunate people and families of the Northeast.
And we continue to receive letters that are appeals for help.
"Things have been a real struggle for me recently with illness and other problems," a young mother recently wrote. "I am a single parent of two children and am unable to work. I would like to give my children a Christmas dinner and put a gift under the tree for them."
The families that are helped by the fund have fallen on hard times for various reasons. And, of course, we know that the current troubling economic outlook makes those times even more profound — both for those who need help and those who would like to provide it.
The Times fund has always responded to our neighbors through the generosity of our readers, whose contributions have always turned despair into hope during the holiday season. Year after year, our campaigns have demonstrated the compassion and good hearts of Northeast residents, many of whom aren’t always in a position themselves to do as much as they’d like.
As the campaign progresses, we’ll be publishing the names of readers who have donated to the fund. Or, if you prefer, we’ll honor your wishes to remain anonymous. When the holiday season concludes, we’ll also provide an overview of the funds that were raised and the people they helped.
We gladly welcome letters from Northeast residents who are facing a particularly tough time this season and would be grateful for a special holiday dinner or need help with gifts. Or, if you’re a relative or neighbor who knows of someone, tell us about it.
So readers, please, if you can help, send contributions to the Northeast Times Eleanor Smylie Community Fund, 2512 Metropolitan Drive, Trevose, PA 19053. Letters seeking help also can be sent to the same address.
But we do require some information. If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please write us a short letter explaining why help is needed. Include your name, address and telephone number. Also, we require that people asking for help provide the name and phone number of a person or agency so that we may verify a recipient’s situation.
We would like to thank these contributors to the Times holiday fund:

• Dorothy Aruffo: $20
• Francis P. Beck: $50
• Sandra Bincarousky: $40
• Helga Mary E. Buda: $150
• Regina C. Carolan: $25
• Frank J. Engel: $25
• In memory of David Dimattesa: $25
• In memory of EWL: $50
• In memory of the Haberkern Family: $50
• In memory of Bill Hill: $50
• In memory of Albert and Emily Mikutis of Tacony: $150
• In memory of Vincent Salandra: $50
• Mayfair Presbyterian Church Deacon Fund: $25
• Linda L. Mount: $25
• Anna M. Phillips: $10
• Rosemarie Pruette: $20
• Shirley A. Quirus: $30
• Roz, Shel and Rand: $25
• Mindy and Randy Tammara: $25
• Lenore Westerman: $25

Note: Last week we listed a contributor as Christopher Artur, Artur Realty, Inc. It should have read Christopher Artur, Artur Realty. We apologize for the error.

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